After months of speculation, viral star Haliey “Hawk Tuah” Welch is finally speaking out about the cryptocurrency scandal that briefly derailed her career — and she’s not holding back.
Welch, who shot to fame with her unforgettable street interview catchphrase, found herself swept up in controversy after a memecoin called $HAWK was launched in her name in December 2024. The coin, which wasn’t officially created by Welch but clearly leaned into her brand, skyrocketed to a $490 million market cap before plummeting below $100 million, leaving investors out over $150,000.
At the height of the backlash, Welch paused her Talk Tuah podcast and issued a short statement saying she took the situation “extremely seriously.” However, she had remained mostly quiet — until now.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Welch opened up about the emotional toll the crypto chaos took on her.
“I hate that that’s even a thing,” she said. “Half of those people that done it were, like, my fans. They trusted me, like, guiding them to it.”
While Welch never publicly endorsed or promoted the $HAWK token beyond its association with her name, many fans felt misled. The coin’s rapid rise and fall, plus the involvement of shady third-party developers, led to a class action lawsuit filed by affected investors. Welch was not named in the lawsuit, but her connection to the brand was enough to ignite public scrutiny.
“It really hurt my feelings when it turned out the way it did,” Welch added. “I wish it hadn’t have happened.”
The scandal couldn’t have come at a more complicated time for the internet personality, who had just begun transitioning from viral fame into a full-fledged media presence. Her Talk Tuah podcast, launched off the back of her viral fame, had started picking up traction with high-profile guests and sponsorship deals. But as news of the token crash spread, Welch went silent — and so did her podcast.
Fortunately for her fans, Welch has since made a comeback. Talk Tuah returned in early 2025, with new episodes featuring guests like YouTuber KSI and rapper Chanel West Coast. On social media, Welch seems to have moved past the ordeal, though the Vanity Fair interview marks the first time she’s addressed the crypto debacle directly.
Despite the drama, Welch’s online following remains strong. Her TikTok and Instagram posts continue to generate millions of views, and her fans seem eager to support her return. While she hasn’t ruled out venturing into web3 or digital investments again, Welch said any future projects would come with more caution — and legal clarity.
“I just want to make people laugh and maybe inspire them a little bit,” she told Vanity Fair. “That whole thing… it was never supposed to happen like that.”
For now, Welch appears focused on reclaiming her narrative — and her brand — on her own terms. Whether the $HAWK scandal becomes a footnote or a defining moment of her career remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Haliey Welch is no longer staying quiet.