Latest news with #TalkTuah
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hawk Tuah Girl Opens Up About FBI Investigation Over Crypto Scandal (Exclusive)
Haliey Welch, known as 'Hawk Tuah Girl' after last summer's viral video, is sharing new details about the aftermath of her recent cryptocurrency scandal, as seen in footage exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter. In the new episode of her podcast Talk Tuah, Welch chats with longtime friend Chelsea Bradford about the crypto crash in December of her meme coin $HAWK, which led investors to file a lawsuit in New York against its creators. Welch became an overnight social media sensation last summer after her on-the-street interview with Tim & Dee TV in which she described a supposedly foolproof way to excite a man in the bedroom. More from The Hollywood Reporter Hawk Tuah Girl Addresses Crypto Scandal: "It Really Hurt My Feelings" Why Top Auteurs Like Sean Baker Worship Charles Burnett's "Killer of Sheep" Joe Rogan Scolded by Own Guest for Pushing Conspiracy Theories Welch shares that the FBI knocked on her grandmother's door in the aftermath of the controversy. 'They wanted to see my phone, so I was like, 'OK, well, that's not a problem,'' Welch says in the podcast episode. She adds about what she went through in the process: 'Interrogating me, asking me questions and everything else related to crypto. They went through my phone, so they cleared me. I was good to go.' She continues, 'And then the SEC picked it up. They didn't want to talk with me, but they wanted my phone. So I sent my phone off to them for two or three days, and then I guess they cloned my phone, copied it, something. But they went through my phone, I was cleared from them, and I wasn't named on the lawsuit, either.' During the conversation, Welch acknowledges that it 'makes me throw up' that her fans trusted her to have lent her likeness to a meme coin about which she didn't have full knowledge. She adds that this experience has taught her important lessons regarding who to trust. She also discusses the amount of money that was allegedly lost by the coin's investors. According to Welch, the amount of lost money was initially claimed to be $1.2 million but was actually closer to $180,000. 'I don't have anything to hide,' Welch notes. She adds, 'I wish we knew then what we know now.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
‘Hawk Tuah' Creator Haliey Welch Says FBI Approached Her Over Failed Crypto Launch
Haliey Welch, the internet creator best known for her viral 'hawk tuah' meme, addressed her controversial failed cryptocurrency coin launch for the first time on an episode of her 'Talk Tuah' podcast Tuesday, stating the FBI and SEC both approached her to investigate after the value of her coin inflated and immediately crashed, though she denied wrongdoing. Welch denied responsibility in the sudden crash of her Hawk Tuah coin and denied she intended to scam her followers, stating she 'trusted the wrong people.' Though she did not name names on the advice of her lawyers, Welch said she launched the coin because she was approached by an unnamed cryptocurrency company, which offered her a deal to launch her own coin, though Welch admitted she knew little about cryptocurrency at the time. Welch said her profile on X was managed by the cryptocurrency company, which gave her lines to say, which she would take videos of herself reading. Once the Hawk Tuah coin crashed in December after reaching a high of $500 million in market capitalization value, Welch said the FBI knocked on the door of her grandmother's house, asked Welch questions and investigated her phone, after which Welch said the investigation was picked up by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which she says also examined her phone. Welch said the agencies cleared her of wrongdoing, and she said she was not named in any lawsuits in the aftermath of the coin crash. Welch said she did not profit off of her Hawk Tuah coin, stating the only money she made was a marketing fee from the company she partnered with, though that money was used for lawyers and crisis public relations management after the value of the coin crashed. Welch announced the launch of her Hawk Tuah coin ($HAWK) in December, which was widely viewed as a 'memecoin,' a cryptocurrency that is created for entertainment purposes and is inspired by an internet trend. Memecoins are typically considered more volatile and are risky investments because they depend on short-lived internet memes. Within one day of the coin's launch, $HAWK plummeted from a $500 million value to $25 million, leading to accusations—which Welch has denied—that the coin was launched as a 'pump and dump' scheme, in which the value of a crypto asset is quickly inflated and then sold off. Some crypto influencers slammed Welch over the launch, including Coffeezilla, a crypto YouTuber with more than 4 million followers, who said in an X space conversation with Welch and her team that the Hawk Tuah rollout was 'one of the most miserable, horrible launches I've ever seen.' He accused Welch and her team of insider trading, which they denied. Welch rose to fame last summer as the creator of a viral catchphrase: 'Hawk Tuah,' a euphemism for oral sex. Welch used the phrase in response to a man-on-the-street TikTok interviewer, who asked her what 'move in bed makes a man go crazy.' The TikTok went viral, and Welch was quick to capitalize on its success. She launched a merchandise line inspired by the phrase and curated a popular social media presence, in which she fraternized with celebrities. She made high-profile public appearances, throwing out the first pitch at a New York Mets game in August and was parodied on Saturday Night Live. She launched her 'Talk Tuah' podcast in September, attracting guests including billionaire Mark Cuban, Wiz Khalifa and JoJo Siwa. The podcast was a surprise success, and in February, market research firm Edison Research said 'Talk Tuah' was the No. 1 new podcast of 2024 measured by weekly audience numbers. Welch's podcast went on a months-long hiatus following her crypto chaos, during which time she did not post on social media. 'Hawk Tuah' Creator Haliey Welch Criticized For Memecoin Launch After Price Crashes (Forbes) The 'Hawk Tuah' Creator's Podcast Ranks No. 5 On Spotify—Here's How She Kept The Meme Going For Months (Forbes)
News18
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
What Happened To 'Hawk Tuah' Girl? The Viral Meme That Disappeared
Last Updated: Hailey Welch shot to fame in June last year when she appeared in on-the-street interview with creators Tim & Dee TV in Nashville, Tennessee. Hailey Welch became one of the most recognisable internet names in 2024. Known widely as the 'Hawk Tuah Girl," the 22-year-old rose to fame after a short street interview went viral. But what followed was a series of ups and downs like her sudden internet popularity, a failed launch of her cryptocurrency and her disappearance from public life. Let's take a look at how Welch became the viral 'Hawk Tuah Girl" and what went wrong with her crypto project. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Welch also spoke about the regrets she has and what lies ahead as she plans to rebuild her public image and explore new opportunities. How Hailey Welch Became The 'Hawk Tuah Girl"? advetisement Hailey Welch shot to fame in June 2024 when she appeared in on-the-street interview with creators Tim & Dee TV in Nashville, Tennessee. When asked what's a move that drives a man crazy, she jokingly replied with her now-famous 'hawk-tuah" sound. The clip gained attention across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Her phrase became a popular meme and many began calling her the 'Hawk Tuah Girl." Following her internet success, Welch launched merchandise, appeared in Halloween costume collaborations and even started her own podcast called Talk Tuah in September 2024. She became a regular face across social media in the second half of the year. The Crypto Launch And Sudden Crash With her growing popularity, Welch entered the world of cryptocurrency. On December 4, she launched her own meme coin called $HAWK. After the launch, the token quickly reached a market cap of around $490 million within hours. But the price dropped by more than 90 percent shortly after launch. It went below $30 million. According to CoinMarketCap, $HAWK may have been affected by a 'rug pull," a situation where snipers buy the asset where it is cheaper and instantly sell it where it's more expensive. Following the sudden fall, a lawsuit was filed in New York against the creators of the token, including its platform overHere, founder Clinton So, influencer Alex Larson Schultz and the Tuah The Moon Foundation which reportedly managed the coin's finances. The lawsuit claimed that the creators of unlawfully promoting and selling cryptocurrency that was allegedly never properly registered. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Welch shared how the situation affected her, saying, 'I hate that that's even a thing. Half of those people that done it were, like, my fans. They trusted me… It really hurt my feelings when it turned out the way it did. I wish it hadn't have happened." Advertisement After the events in December, Welch took a break from public life. She stopped releasing episodes of her podcast Talk Tuah and stayed off social media until late March. Back in December, she had posted a message saying she was 'committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter." In the new interview, Welch said, 'I see things a lot differently than I used to. My eyes are open a lot wider." She also had a message for other viral stars: 'Definitely be careful what you tie your name into and who you trust." New Acting Projects And Future Plans Welch has now returned to social media and wants to move forward with new projects. She shared that she is planning to rework her podcast Talk Tuah. 'I'm hoping my podcast gets rebranded in the way I'm seeing it in my head — the vision I've got. Just making it more girlier and more authentic to me," SHE SAID. top videos View All She is also stepping into acting. Welch will reportedly appear in the upcoming Hulu comedy series Chad Powers, which stars Glen Powell. 'It was definitely something I would do again. I don't know if I could do a whole movie by myself… But bits and pieces, just popping in here and there — I think that would be so much fun," Welch said about her acting experience. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned that she had earlier turned down a few roles in horror films. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 07, 2025, 12:30 IST News explainers What Happened To 'Hawk Tuah' Girl? The Viral Meme That Disappeared
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Express Tribune
06-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Haliey Welch addresses $HAWK meme coin scandal and its impact on her career
Haliey Welch, the viral star known as "Hawk Tuah Girl," has opened up about the controversy surrounding the $HAWK meme coin that led to significant financial losses for many investors. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Welch discussed the aftermath of the December 2024 crypto crash, which saw the coin's value plummet by 93%, and how it affected her mental health. Welch, who initially gained fame from a viral interview in which she shared an intimate anecdote, promoted the $HAWK coin, which quickly surged to a $490 million market cap before crashing. The coin's collapse prompted a lawsuit from investors, alleging that they were misled, and Welch has since cooperated with the legal team involved. 'It really hurt my feelings when it turned out the way it did,' Welch said, expressing regret over the loss experienced by her fans, some of whom had trusted her endorsement of the coin. She admitted that she didn't fully understand the mechanics of the cryptocurrency world and felt sorrow for those who lost money due to the investment. "I feel sorry for everybody that just lost money," she added. Following the incident, Welch chose to step back from public life for a period, taking a much-needed mental health break. During this time, she refrained from releasing episodes of her podcast Talk Tuah, which she had launched in the wake of her viral fame. She acknowledged the pressure that came with the scandal and the strain it placed on her well-being, adding that she struggled with mental health even before her rise to internet stardom. As she returns to the podcasting world, Welch says she is more cautious about who she partners with, ensuring greater scrutiny for future collaborations. She also emphasized that she hopes to make her podcast more authentic to herself, making it more "girlier" and in line with her evolving vision. Welch's transparency about the situation reflects her efforts to regain trust and continue her career with greater awareness.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hawk Tuah Girl Addresses Crypto Scandal: 'It Really Hurt My Feelings'
Haliey Welch, the viral figure who became known as 'Hawk Tuah Girl,' is sharing her latest thoughts following the cryptocurrency scandal that led her to disappear from the limelight for several months. In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Welch addressed questions about the crypto crash in December of her meme coin $HAWK, which led investors to file a lawsuit in New York against its creators. Welch became ubiquitous last summer after her on-the-street interview with Tim & Dee TV in which she described a supposedly surefire way to excite a man in the bedroom. More from The Hollywood Reporter Why Top Auteurs Like Sean Baker Worship Charles Burnett's "Killer of Sheep" Glen Powell to Star in Judd Apatow Comedy About Fallen Country Music Star Glen Powell On His New Line of Organic Sauces That Will "Change Every Kitchen Staple, Starting with Walmart" 'I hate that that's even a thing,' Welch told the publication about the crypto controversy. 'Half of those people that done it were, like, my fans. They trusted me, like, guiding them to it. And I don't know … It really hurt my feelings when it turned out the way it did. I wish it hadn't have happened.' Following the December scandal, Welch opted to step back from public life — including not releasing episodes of her podcast Talk Tuah, which she launched in September in the wake of her newfound fame — until returning to social media in late March. Back in December, she posted that she was 'committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter.' In the new interview, Welch said, 'I see things a lot differently than I used to. My eyes are open a lot wider.' Regarding lessons she would impart to other viral stars, Welch noted, 'Definitely be careful what you tie your name into and who you trust.' She went on to say that she would like to see her podcast continue to evolve. 'I'm hoping my podcast gets rebranded in the way I'm seeing it in my head — the vision I've got. And I hope it grows,' Welch said. When asked to specify what she would like to change, she replied, 'Just making it more girlier and more authentic to me.' Welch was also asked about her interest in acting, given that she is set to appear in the forthcoming Hulu comedy series Chad Powers that stars Glen Powell. The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that she had turned down roles in several horror movies. 'It was definitely something I would do again,' Welch said about picking up acting gigs. 'It was so much fun. The whole team was great. I honestly think I could do it. I don't know if I could do a whole movie by myself because that's a lot of work and lines to remember. But I don't know. Bits and pieces, just popping in here and there — I think that would be so much fun.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
