“Hawk Tuah” Girl Returns to Social Media After Months-Long Hiatus Following Crypto Scandal

Hailey Welch, widely known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, has returned to social media following her months-long hiatus after being caught in a crypto scandal involving her meme coin, $HAWK.

Hailey Welch, widely known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl and a key figure in a recent meme coin crypto scandal, has returned to social media following a months-long hiatus, reports Variety.

The 22-year-old, who launched the $HAWK meme coin on Solana, was last seen in July as her digital currency quickly went bust, dropping from a $490 million valuation to just $29.1 million within 24 hours—sparking accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme.

A post shared by Haliey Welch (@hay_welch)

As her digital currency quickly went bust, dropping from a $490 million valuation to just $29.1 million within 24 hours, and went largely unclaimed despite a threat of legal action, those who invested in the token voiced their fury at the devastating losses they faced—some even threatened to take their own lives.

“I was hoping that her 30 seconds of fame was over,” one X user wrote, while another slammed her comeback: “So she thinks 3 months is all it takes for people to forget you stole from them?” Another post that summed up the frustration scammed millions, dipped and came back for more.”

This is what y’all get for making talentless people who have an entertaining personality famous. They scam and don’t get held accountable for it.

Hailey mentioned in a comment that she’s working on a new podcast. I wonder if she’ll be able to pay her guests or if she’ll scam them too.

At least one outlet is making a documentary on her rise to fame. Bungalow Media + Entertainment is making the project, which CEO Bob Friedman described as “both an inspiring and entertaining story of Hailey’s journey, and a lens into what it means to navigate the risks and rewards that come with living in the public’s eye.”

The movie will follow the tale of how a small-town girl became a viral internet sensation overnight. It all began with a street-style interview at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. In the interview, soundbites of which went viral on X, a reporter asked several festivalgoers about their fashion choices. When she arrived at Welch, the interviewer asked, “What's your favorite food?” to which she replied, "Risotto." The interviewer went on to praise her style, and she made a suggestive noise that was later dubbed “Hawk Tuah.”

The interview went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking a frenzy online. Among the viewers was a Solana meme coin trader who saw an opportunity and contacted her to propose launching a coin in her name. Within 24 hours, they had created and launched the $HAWK token on Solana.

The meme coin quickly gained attention and reached a staggering $490 million valuation within a day. However, the enthusiasm didn't last long, and the token's price crashed to $29.1 million by the morning, leaving investors in despair.

Amid the backlash, a documentary on Hailey’s viral rise is reportedly in the works. Bungalow Media + Entertainment is producing the project, which CEO Bob Friedman described as “both an inspiring and entertaining story of Hailey’s journey, and a lens into what it means to navigate the risks and rewards that come with living in the public’s eye.”

Whether the internet forgives Welch remains uncertain, but it’s clear her return has stirred up more controversy than celebration.