Lil Tay Viral Video: Teases 9-5 Workers, You Must SEE!

Social media personality Lil Tay, who rose to fame as the self-proclaimed “youngest flexer of the century,” is back in headlines after posting a bold video on Instagram. In the Lil Tay video, she openly mocked people working 9-5 jobs after the age of 25, calling them “failures.”

Lil Tay has been no stranger to controversy — from flaunting luxury cars and stacks of cash at a young age to making bold statements against traditional norms. But this latest rant may be one of her most divisive yet.

What Did Lil Tay Say?

In the now-viral reel, Lil Tay directly targeted those who follow conventional career paths. She said:

• “If you’re over the age of 25 and you’re still working a 9-5, you are a failure. By then you should have already made your bag.”

• “And ladies, every single one of you should drop the link like me. Just literally make your bag. Screw your family.”

• “Harvard was never gonna help me make 8 figures. That’s why I dropped out.”

Her comments suggest that she views online hustling and influencer culture as superior to education or stable employment.

What Fans Say: Reactions & Hatred

The reaction was swift and heated. The comments section of her post turned into a debate forum.

• A nurse wrote: “Being a nurse means I’m a failure? I work 8-5 in oncology treating cancer patients. I don’t think my patients see me as a failure.”

• Another user added: “Take it easy on her, this 3rd grader still has so much to learn.”

• One pointed comment read: “Just because you’re uneducated and can’t do a 9-5 doesn’t make you better than hardworking women making a living. Humble yourself.”

The backlash reflects a generational clash: while influencers glorify entrepreneurship and online money-making, millions still rely on traditional jobs to support families and communities.

Who Is Lil Tay? A Brief Background

Lil Tay (born Claire Eileen Qi Hope)  first gained notoriety in 2018 as a 9-year-old who was posting videos of herself online surrounding money, luxury cars, designer clothes, and the lifestyle that goes along with it. Lil Tay drew criticism for language and for her age and for acting like an adult child.

Then in 2023, her death and then her “resurrection” contributed to a narrative that kept her notoriety going as an internet person.

Her return in 2025 where she talked about work, money, and education made people talk again, not only about her, but about work and the internet.

 

 

 

 

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Why This Video Should Not Be Appropriate As We as A Society

Lil Tay's rant is not just a moment of entertainment to a young impressionable audience, but it begins to demonstrate some issues for conversations to be had on:

• The importance of traditional employment vs new employment opportunities from entrepreneurship.
• The importance of education (including post secondary) when looking to build a sustainable career.
• The positive and negative influence of online personas with their audience.

For some people her statements were motivational in as much as suggesting to them that breaking the norm and being your own boss is an option. For others it signals a disregard for hard working people who rely on their expertise in respectable professions in society.

Love her or hate her, Lil Tay will go viral. and once again, it has divided the internet again to have the interesting conversations around success, money, education, and ultimately what it means to 'make it' today.