'Hawk Tuah' girl Haliey Welch explains 'truth' behind crypto scam allegations that forced her off the internet
'Hawk Tuah' girl Haliey Welch has opened up about what really happened with the HAWK memecoin scam.
The Tennessee internet sensation was accused of doing a 'pump and dump' in December 2024 after the coin's market cap soared to an eye-watering $490 million before losing more than 95 percent of its value within hours.
Also known as a 'rug pull', it's where promoters draw in buyers, only to stop trading activity and take off with the money raised from sales.
In a recent interview on Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan, the 23-year-old again claimed that she was cleared by the FBI and SEC, stating that she didn't understand what was going on.
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“The day the coin launched I actually had, I think two podcasts that day and the guy that was in the room with us, the one who was like operating the coin, we noticed he was like pacing around everywhere, acting nervous,” she said.
“After we finished all the podcasts everybody went out the room and looked concerned and I’m like what is going on?
“I don’t understand what’s happened? They said oh nothing don’t worry about it.
“I pull up my TikTok and the next thing I know there’s all these posts saying I’m going to jail.”
Welch insisted: “After everything got figured out, I took every step you’re supposed to take, I was cooperative with the FBI and SEC.
“I even sent my phone off for days and had everything searched, the SEC cleared me.”
“I wouldn’t come out of the house for like months,” she said, adding that the investigation into the people involved is ongoing.
Welch agreed that the publicity was worse than when the video of her doing the 'Hawk Tuah' went viral in June 2024.
Without knowing it, she took over the internet after being interviewed on the streets of Nashville.
YouTubers Tim and Dee TV spoke to dozens of women, but it was Welch who stole the show.
She and her friend were chatting to Dee about the best way to 'make a man go crazy every time', when her friend set Welch up for the famous line.
"This is for her. You know how to answer this, you got it," she said.
And that's when Welch responded: "You gotta give 'em that 'Hawk Tuah' and spit on that thang!"
Topics: Hawk Tuah girl, Celebrity
Anish Vij