Haliey Welch, better known as the infamous "Hawk Tuah girl," has finally spoken out after weeks of silence following the collapse of her cryptocurrency venture. The viral star, who shot to internet fame in 2023 for her unforgettable “spit on that thang” remark, has now found herself at the center of controversy—not for her words, but for the financial fallout of her short-lived crypto token.
Welch’s rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric. Her viral video propelled her into internet stardom, leading to lucrative brand deals, a podcast called Talk Tuah with Haliey Welch, and eventually, a move into cryptocurrency. In late 2024, she launched the "$HAWK" token, a digital currency promoted as a "long-term coin" that would supposedly revolutionize the way people think about crypto.
However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. The token skyrocketed to a staggering $490 million valuation before crashing by over 90%, wiping out millions in investments. The collapse left investors fuming, with many accusing Welch of a pump-and-dump scheme. Though she was not named in any lawsuits, the backlash forced her to disappear from social media—until now.
Welch recently returned to the spotlight via a leaked podcast episode featuring FaZe Clan founder Banks. In the episode, she addressed the fallout and revealed how her boyfriend, Kelby "Pookie" Blackwell, reacted to losing money in the failed investment.
“Pookie lost money too,” she admitted with a nervous laugh. “He said, ‘How you going to take my money?’ He still gives me s*** all the time. He says, ‘I wish I had my $300 back.’”
While $300 may seem like a drop in the ocean compared to the millions lost by other investors, the sentiment clearly hit home.
Welch acknowledged that the entire crypto venture didn’t go as planned. She expressed sympathy for those who lost money, admitting that she was misled by a so-called “friend of a friend” who had pitched her the idea.
“It was brought to me as a long-term coin that would change the way everybody thinks about crypto,” she explained. “And I feel really bad for all the people that got affected by it. It just didn’t go the way I planned.”
She also revealed that, in hindsight, there were red flags about the person managing the project. “I probably should have looked into him a little bit more,” she admitted. “He was acting a little bit weird on the day of the launch, and that made me suspicious.”
Despite the backlash, Welch seems determined to move forward. Whether she can rebuild her reputation remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—her days of carefree internet fame have taken a dramatic turn. From viral soundbites to financial scandal, the Hawk Tuah girl has learned the hard way that not everything on the internet is as easy as spitting out a one-liner.
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However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. The token skyrocketed to a staggering $490 million valuation before crashing by over 90%, wiping out millions in investments. The collapse left investors fuming, with many accusing Welch of a pump-and-dump scheme. Though she was not named in any lawsuits, the backlash forced her to disappear from social media—until now.
Boyfriend’s Priceless Reaction to Losing Money
Welch recently returned to the spotlight via a leaked podcast episode featuring FaZe Clan founder Banks. In the episode, she addressed the fallout and revealed how her boyfriend, Kelby "Pookie" Blackwell, reacted to losing money in the failed investment.“Pookie lost money too,” she admitted with a nervous laugh. “He said, ‘How you going to take my money?’ He still gives me s*** all the time. He says, ‘I wish I had my $300 back.’”
While $300 may seem like a drop in the ocean compared to the millions lost by other investors, the sentiment clearly hit home.
Welch acknowledged that the entire crypto venture didn’t go as planned. She expressed sympathy for those who lost money, admitting that she was misled by a so-called “friend of a friend” who had pitched her the idea.
“It was brought to me as a long-term coin that would change the way everybody thinks about crypto,” she explained. “And I feel really bad for all the people that got affected by it. It just didn’t go the way I planned.”
She also revealed that, in hindsight, there were red flags about the person managing the project. “I probably should have looked into him a little bit more,” she admitted. “He was acting a little bit weird on the day of the launch, and that made me suspicious.”
Despite the backlash, Welch seems determined to move forward. Whether she can rebuild her reputation remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—her days of carefree internet fame have taken a dramatic turn. From viral soundbites to financial scandal, the Hawk Tuah girl has learned the hard way that not everything on the internet is as easy as spitting out a one-liner.
