Understanding the Hawk Tuah Coin Scandal: Where is Hawk Tuah Girl Now?

When a simple street interview went viral in 2024, it launched Haliey Welch, known to many as “Hawk Tuah Girl,” into unexpected internet stardom. 

What started as a funny moment quickly turned into something much bigger, as she became the face of a meme coin called $HAWK.

The coin’s sudden rise grabbed attention, but its rapid collapse left investors shocked and many questions unanswered. In this article, we’ll explore how the Hawk Tuah coin blew up, what happened after the crash, and where Haliey Welch is today, shedding light on the full story behind the viral phenomenon.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Hawk Tuah meme coin rose fast but crashed hard, causing big losses and legal trouble for its promoters and investors.

2. Haliey Welch admitted she didn’t fully understand crypto and was cleared by authorities, but faced backlash and legal battles.

3. Now, she’s focusing on media projects, leaving crypto behind, and working to rebuild her public image.

How the Hawk Tuah Meme Coin Launched and Crashed

Haliey Welch soared to internet fame in mid‑2024 after her charming reaction in a street interview, which became the “Hawk Tuah” meme. 

Riding that wave, she teamed up with a crypto project to launch the $HAWK meme coin on December 4, 2024. That coin rocketed to a nearly $500 million market cap, but crashed by over 90% within minutes, slashing its value to around $25 million.

Investors accused it of being a pump-and-dump scam and filed a lawsuit by December 20, alleging failure to register and rapid price dumping. Crypto journalist Coffeezilla even flagged it as a possible rug pull and insider trading scandal. 

Blockchain data confirmed a massive concentration (96%) of tokens in just ten wallets, worsening volatility. The fallout included public outrage, lost savings, and intense online scrutiny.

Read more: Hawk Tuah (HAWKTUAH) Price Prediction 2025: Can the Viral Meme Coin Make a Comeback?

Haliey Welch’s Public Response and Legal Outcome

After the crash, Welch went silent for months. She then returned via her “Talk Tuah” podcast to address what happened. She admitted she never fully understood cryptocurrency, saying, “I couldn’t tell you how crypto worked the day that coin launched… so that screwed me”. 

On that podcast, she revealed the FBI and SEC visited her at her grandmother’s home, no less, and inspected her phone. In the end, Welch says she was cleared by both and not named in the investor lawsuit.

Still, she faced backlash from fans who lost money and publicly said she felt betrayed by how things turned out. She spent her earnings from promoting the coin on legal fees, PR, and investor legal teams. 

Former prosecutors criticized her portrayal as a victim, but she maintains she was misled and that it was never her intention to deceive fans.

Read more: What impact did the Hawk Tuah meme have on Haliey Welch’s career

Where “Hawk Tuah Girl” is Now

Fast forward to mid‑2025, and Haliey Welch is slowly rebuilding. She resurfaced on social media with an announcement of a Bungalow Media + Entertainment documentary, “DocTuah,” which aims to tell her story and clear rumors.

She relaunched her podcast on April 8, 2025, officially ended her partnership with Betr Holdings, and says she’s done with crypto. Her focus is now on brand collaborations, merch, content creation, and exploring potential acting roles. She’s also dealt with mental health challenges from intense internet scrutiny.

Despite everything, she’s embraced her viral persona, thrown the first pitch at a Mets game, signed with an agent, and hosted live events alongside celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and Zach Bryan. Her upcoming documentary and podcast revamp show she’s working to transform her narrative.

Read more: Hawk Tuah Rug Chronology and Lawsuit

Conclusion

The Hawk Tuah saga is a cautionary tale about fame, crypto hype, and the risks of promoting projects without full understanding. 

Haliey Welch learned that the hard way, with fans losing money, legal scrutiny, and personal stress. Now she’s charting a new course with media ventures and creative projects, distancing herself from crypto for good.

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FAQ

Was Haliey Welch charged or found guilty over the Hawk Tuah coin?

No. She was investigated by the FBI and SEC but was cleared and not named in investor lawsuits.

Did Haliey know how crypto worked before launching the coin?

She publicly admitted on her podcast that she lacked understanding of crypto when she launched the coin, saying “that screwed me”.

What is Haliey Welch doing now?

As of mid‑2025, she relaunched her podcast, is working on a documentary, developing brand collaborations, and staying away from crypto.

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