Haliey Welch Breaks Silence On $HAWK Crypto Collapse

Haliey Welch, best known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” finally addressed the massive fallout from her involvement in the failed $HAWK meme coin. The Solana-based token skyrocketed to a $500 million market cap in December 2024 before crashing within hours, triggering a class-action lawsuit and SEC probe. Welch, whose face fronted the project, came clean on the May 20 episode of her Talk Tuah podcast, claiming she didn’t make a single dime off the coin itself. “All that trouble for nothing,” she said, explaining that the marketing fee she received was wiped out by PR and legal expenses.

Fans Felt Burned 

Welch admitted she underestimated the consequences of associating with a crypto venture she barely understood. “It was my face on the coin so they felt like they could trust me,” she told listeners, clearly emotional. The public backlash was swift and brutal—accusations of scamming fans, a suspended X account, and a social media blackout that lasted months. Some users defended her naivety; others weren’t as forgiving. Even though the SEC officially cleared her of wrongdoing, the reputational damage stuck.

Taking a Step Back 

In the wake of the scandal, Welch took a mental health break and stepped away from her podcast, brand deals, and social platforms. Now returning, she’s distancing herself from former collaborators like Jake Paul’s Betr Holdings and rethinking her public image. With only one sponsor left and talks of a documentary in the works, she’s focused on transparency and reclaiming her narrative. Her warning to fellow influencers? Be extremely careful what you tie your name to.

Bigger Lessons from Meme Coin Chaos

The $HAWK debacle serves as a glaring reminder of how quickly influencer-backed crypto projects can implode—especially when built on hype and little substance. Welch may have been a pawn rather than a player, but the fallout reveals how even unintentional endorsements can lead to financial and emotional chaos for both fans and public figures. Her story, now unfolding in real time, shows the dark side of internet fame and the high price of viral trust.