The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Hawk Tuah Girl

How Haliey Welch Became a Viral Sensation

In June of this year, a nine-second clip changed the trajectory of Haliey Welch’s life forever. The now-iconic video, which saw her declare in a thick Tennessee drawl, “You gotta give ’em that hawk tuah and spit on that thang!” catapulted her from obscurity to internet stardom. With her Dolly Parton-esque charm, Southern sass, and bold humor, Welch—soon dubbed Hawk Tuah Girl—became a symbol of Gen Z virality.

From Memes to Millions

The internet couldn’t get enough. Welch’s catchphrase was suddenly everywhere—on T-shirts, memes, and lip-sync videos. Capitalizing on the momentum, she signed with the Penthouse management agency and launched a merchandise empire, podcast, and social media presence that rivaled many established influencers.

The Launch of “Talk Tuah With Haliey Welch”

One of Welch’s smartest pivots was launching a podcast called Talk Tuah With Haliey Welch. Backed by Jake Paul’s production company, the podcast soared on Spotify charts, even beating out veteran shows like Call Her Daddy. With guests ranging from Wiz Khalifa to Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban (and even her Granny Welch), the show blended celebrity gossip, Southern charm, and unfiltered humor.

Hawk Tuah’s Digital Empire

Across platforms, Welch established a commanding presence:

Instagram: 2.6 million followers
TikTok: 1.8 million followers
X (formerly Twitter): 424.5K followers

She was living a real-life Cinderella story—throwing the first pitch at a Mets game, appearing on Bill Maher’s podcast, and launching a dating app called Pookie Tools aimed at Gen Z users.

The Crypto Crash: $HAWK Coin’s Rise and Implosion

Enter the Memecoin Era

In December, Welch unveiled $HAWK, a Solana-based cryptocurrency developed in partnership with a platform called OverHere. The promise? A cultural coin to unify Welch’s fanbase and onboard non-crypto users in a fun, easy way. OverHere hyped it as a revolutionary bridge between internet culture and blockchain tech.

Too Good to Be True?

Initially, $HAWK skyrocketed. Within minutes of its release, the coin reached a market cap of $490 million. But just 20 minutes later, it plummeted to $60 million—a catastrophic drop that triggered panic and outrage.

Accusations of a Pump-and-Dump Scheme

Crypto Controversy Erupts

Crypto YouTuber Coffeezilla accused Welch and her team of orchestrating a classic pump-and-dump scheme—quickly inflating the coin’s value before selling off their stakes for profit. This strategy, made infamous by The Wolf of Wall Street, has landed others in hot water with the SEC.

Welch’s legal team pushed back. They claimed she hadn’t sold any tokens and would likely only see 3.5% of the token proceeds after paying her team. Nevertheless, blockchain analysts like Bubblemaps founder Nicolas Vaiman labeled the incident a textbook “rug pull.”

The SEC Complaint and Investor Backlash

One furious investor wrote on X: “I purchased your coin $HAWK with my life savings and children’s college fund.” Others accused Welch of hoarding 97% of the token supply and immediately cashing out.

At least one formal complaint has been filed with the SEC. This puts Welch in the same category as celebrities like Kim Kardashian (who was fined $1.26 million in 2021 for failing to disclose a crypto promo payment) and Logan Paul, currently embroiled in legal trouble over his failed CryptoZoo project.

Damage Control and Legal Defense

Welch’s team insists no wrongdoing occurred. On X, she posted, “Team hasn’t sold one token,” claiming “snipers” artificially inflated and crashed $HAWK. However, community notes contradict her statement, alleging her team had indeed sold coins for profit.

What Happens Next for Hawk Tuah Girl?

The Harvard Lampoon Cameo

Despite the chaos, Welch made a surprise appearance on TMZ on launch day, cheerfully discussing a potential induction into The Harvard Lampoon and joking about attending Harvard Law “like Elle Woods.”

Social Media Silence

Since the fallout, Welch has been conspicuously silent. No new episodes of her podcast have dropped, and her usually hyperactive social media accounts have gone dark. Whether this is due to legal strategy, public relations advice, or personal reflection remains unknown.

Will She Rise Again?

Haliey Welch’s story isn’t just about a viral meme. It’s about the fragility of fame, the power of internet culture, and the high-risk world of crypto. Her rapid rise and even more rapid fall raise important questions:

Can virality be sustained without a solid foundation?
Should influencers venture into speculative financial markets?
And most importantly—can Hawk Tuah Girl make a comeback?

The Road Ahead

While Welch may have hit a major stumbling block, it’s too early to write her off completely. She remains a cultural touchstone for a particular moment in Gen Z internet lore. If she can weather the crypto storm, clarify her role, and rebuild trust, there may be yet another chapter in the Hawk Tuah saga.

After all, in the digital age, redemption arcs are just as fast—and sometimes as lucrative—as downfalls.

Stay tuned. The Hawk Tuah story might not be over just yet.