Overcome with emotion, the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl broke down in tears while discussing the alleged cryptocurrency scam during a new podcast episode.
Haliey Welch, the viral “Hawk Tuah Girl,” has broken her silence on the alleged cryptocurrency scam involving her $HAWK token. In a leaked podcast episode, Welch tearfully addressed the controversy, expressing regret and vowing to make things right.
Haliey Welch’s rise to fame
Haliey Welch became an internet sensation in June 2024 after a street interview where she coined the phrase “hawk tuah, spit on that thang.” Her viral fame led to opportunities, including her own cryptocurrency, the $HAWK token.
However, the $HAWK token’s dramatic collapse in December 2024 sparked outrage. Investors accused Welch and the token’s creators of orchestrating a “rug pull,” leaving many with significant financial losses.
The $HAWK token scandal explained
The $HAWK token’s value plummeted by nearly $450 million in less than 20 minutes on December 4. Reports claimed it lost over 95% of its value in a single day.
Investors, some of whom lost their life savings, accused Welch and her team of selling off their stock, causing the crash. This practice, known as a “rug pull,” left the token virtually worthless.
In a leaked episode of her podcast with YouTuber FaZe Banks, Welch addressed the scandal. She thanked her fans and expressed her commitment to resolving the issue.
“We’re trying to sort out all the pieces and stuff to, like, get all this figured out and make everything right,” Welch said, fighting back tears.
“I want to start by saying thank you to all my true fans and all the people that actually watch my stuff and they keep up with me. We’re trying to sort out all the pieces and stuff to, like, get all this figured out and make everything right. Oh my God, I’m gonna cry.” She added.
She explained that the $HAWK token was pitched as a “long-term coin” meant to revolutionize cryptocurrency. Welch admitted feeling terrible for those affected, saying, “It just didn’t go the way I planned.”
“Crypto is gonna be a good place. And I feel really bad for all the people that got affected by it, and it just didn’t go the way I planned. And all the money out of this episode is getting donated to all the animals that have been affected by the fires up here.”
FaZe Banks criticizes Welch’s team
FaZe Banks, who appeared on the podcast, publicly criticized Welch’s management team. He accused them of leaking the episode and mishandling the situation.
On Twitter, Banks wrote, “These incompetent r*****s leaked and/or inside traded the token. They completely blew it and we called the episode off right then and there.”
He urged Welch to “fire everybody,” calling her team “f***ing r*****ed” and blaming them for her current predicament.
Haliey Welch’s journey from viral fame to cryptocurrency controversy highlights the risks of rapid success. While she remains a beloved internet personality, the $HAWK token scandal serves as a cautionary tale.
Welch’s emotional response shows her accountability and determination to make amends. As she navigates this challenging chapter, fans hope she’ll emerge stronger and more resilient.