Social media influencer Hailey Welsh discusses the fallout from the HAWK memecoin's rapid rise and fall, including personal threats and an FBI investigation that cleared her.
Hailey Welsh, the social media influencer known as the 'Hawk Tuah' girl, stated in a recent interview that the implosion of the HAWK memecoin she promoted in 2024 left her traumatized. She told YouTube channel Channel 5 that she was persuaded to endorse the coin without full knowledge of the cryptocurrency sector.
Welsh emphasized that she fully cooperated with a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe in 2025, which found no wrongdoing on her part. She clarified that she did not possess any funds from the memecoin launch and lacked the technical expertise to create it.
Welsh's Personal Impact
Following the memecoin's failure, Welsh reported receiving death threats and attempting to maintain a low profile, which affected her mental health. Her lawyer estimated that retail investors lost about $200,000 in total, though she stressed that real people were harmed.
The HAWK memecoin launched in December 2024 and quickly reached a market capitalization of over $490 million. However, it crashed by more than 91% the next day, dropping to around $41 million, and was labeled a rug pull by critics.
Memecoin Fallout and Reactions
In December 2024, a lawsuit was filed against the entities behind the HAWK memecoin, alleging they sold unregistered securities, though Welsh was not named in the suit. Onchain investigator ZachXBT criticized Welsh's involvement, noting that she ignored warnings from the crypto community before launching the token.
Despite the backlash, Welsh maintained in her interview that she was not responsible for the losses. The incident has highlighted risks in the memecoin market, as Welsh warned others to steer clear of cryptocurrency ventures they do not understand.
Cointelegraph reported these details based on Welsh's statements and related events, emphasizing the need for caution in crypto promotions.
