Haliey Welch, famously known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” rose to viral stardom in June 2024 after a street interview in Nashville, Tennessee, where she delivered the now-iconic “hawk tuah” phrase.
The viral moment exploded across social media, spawning memes, merchandise, and even a limited-edition Spirit Halloween costume.
Riding the wave of internet fame, Welch signed with Jake Paul’s media company, Betr, to launch her podcast, Talk Tuah with Haliey Welch, which quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase.
However, her rapid ascent took a dark turn in December 2024 when Welch ventured into cryptocurrency by promoting a meme coin called $Hawk. Despite initial excitement, the token’s value plummeted almost immediately after launch.
Renowned YouTube investigator Coffeezilla harshly criticized the project, labeling it a “scam” and accusing those involved of collecting over $1 million in fees while investors were “rug-pulled.” Coffeezilla called it one of the worst tokenomics projects he’d ever analyzed.
Soon after, a class action lawsuit was filed against the creators of the $Hawk coin, though Welch herself was not directly named in the suit.
Following the backlash, Welch disappeared from social media, leaving her podcast inactive since December 3, 2024. Fans were left in limbo, flooding social platforms with questions about the future of Talk Tuah.
Many expressed frustration and demanded updates, but Welch remained silent except for a brief post on X (formerly Twitter) on December 20, stating she was cooperating with legal teams to help investors uncover the truth.
A leaked episode of Talk Tuah, featuring FaZe Banks, surfaced later and shed more light on Welch’s side of the controversy.
In the emotionally charged recording, Welch admitted that trusting the crypto project’s creator was her “biggest mistake.”
She claimed the project was pitched as a positive, community-driven initiative, with promises that half of the earnings would support her chosen charity.
Banks and his team advised Welch to reinvest her $125,000 promotion payment into the crypto market to stabilize the token and support affected investors.
Welch did not confirm whether she followed through but emphasized her desire to take accountability and help resolve the situation.
After months of silence, Welch finally re-emerged on March 25, 2025, with a creative video teaser posted on Instagram and TikTok.
In the skit, she humorously addressed rampant internet rumors—being dead, pregnant, or wanted by Interpol—and announced her upcoming documentary titled DocTuah.
Welch revealed that she has partnered with production company Bungalow to tell the real story behind the viral fame, the crypto scandal, and the wild narratives that overtook her life.
In a statement to Deadline, Welch teased that the truth is even “more bizarre” than what’s been shared online.
While there is no official release date for the documentary, Welch’s return hints at her plan to clear the air and potentially revive her podcast after “setting the record straight” about the $Hawk meme coin debacle.
The saga of Haliey Welch reflects the volatile nature of internet fame, the risks of influencer-led crypto ventures, and the immense pressure public figures face when viral moments spiral out of control.
Fans now wait for DocTuah to reveal the full, unfiltered story of the Hawk Tuah girl’s meteoric rise, painful missteps, and possible comeback.
