Hailey Welch, creator of viral 'Hawk Tuah' catchphrase, vanishes amid $HAWK crypto controversy

Internet sensation Hailey Welch has vanished from the public spotlight, leaving her millions of fans puzzled and concerned. Welch's viral podcast Talk Tuah last aired an episode on December 3. Since then she is no where to be found. Famous for her catchphrase "Hawk Tuah", Welch has since then not posted any updates on social media either, raising questions about the influencer-turned-entrepreneur’s sudden silence.

Welch’s meteoric rise felt like a modern-day fairy tale. After her "Hawk Tuah" video captivated the internet, she capitalized on her newfound fame, launching a merchandise line and a wildly popular podcast that soared to the top of Spotify charts. Her trajectory seemed unstoppable—until it wasn’t.

On December 4, Welch introduced her own cryptocurrency, $HAWK, a memecoin inspired by her brand. Initially, the coin's value skyrocketed, briefly reaching a market cap in the hundreds of millions. But within minutes, it crashed, wiping out the investments of countless fans. Speculation swirled that insiders had sold off large holdings, reaping profits while leaving everyday investors in financial ruin.


In an attempt to address the debacle, Welch participated in a live audio session on X (formerly Twitter) with her crypto partners at OverHere. However, her casual demeanor only added fuel to the fire. "Hey guys! I hate to interrupt you, Nick, but hello there. Anywho, I'm gonna go to bed and I'll see you guys tomorrow," she said before abruptly exiting the conversation. That impromptu sign-off became her last public statement.

The fallout has divided public opinion. Some critics have branded her disappearance a “career-ending move,” while others have taken a lighter tone, dubbing her “Sleeping Beauty.” One social media user quipped, "Her career ended as quickly as it began."

Meanwhile, Welch’s crypto partners have pointed fingers elsewhere, placing blame on Alex Larson Schultz, aka "Doc Hollywood," who they claim managed key aspects of $HAWK’s token distribution and finances. Schultz, a music producer and the son-in-law of comedian Howie Mandel, has yet to address the allegations.

Adding to the drama, a group of investors who lost money in the $HAWK collapse filed a lawsuit on December 7, accusing the coin’s creators of selling unregistered securities.