“Trusted the wrong people”—Hawk Tuah Denies Role in HAWK Token Collapse

• Haliey Welch says she only lent her name to HAWK, denying any control over the project’s launch or operations.
• She claims she was misled by the team, lacked crypto knowledge, and trusted the wrong people.
• After the crash and backlash, Welch was cleared by authorities and now warns others to avoid similar ventures.

Haliey Welch, the viral “Hawk Tuah” internet personality, has again addressed the controversial collapse of the HAWK meme coin. She insisted she had no operational control over the project and was misled by those behind it.

Speaking in a recent interview with Andrew Callaghan on Channel 5, Welch described her involvement as limited to lending her name and image to the token while others handled the technical and financial aspects.

Welch explained that she “got talked into” the project despite having no prior knowledge of crypto, emphasizing that she trusted the wrong people. According to her, the entire arrangement revolved around branding, where she simply approved the use of her likeness while external parties managed the coin’s launch and operations.

“I Just Put My Name on It”

Welch pushed back against claims that she orchestrated the project, noting that many overestimated her role. She said she had never even used platforms like X/Twitter before being introduced to the token initiative and lacked the expertise to create or manage a cryptocurrency.

Instead, she described a structure where a third-party team controlled the coin, including producing scripted promotional content for her to share. She maintained that she did not understand how the system worked, even after attending crypto events like the Bitcoin conference to learn.

The influencer also revealed that the project was pitched as a community initiative, with promises of charitable donations and fan engagement features. These included ideas like rewarding followers for good deeds, which ultimately never materialized.

Launch Day Chaos and Collapse

Welch recounted confusion during the token’s launch, describing erratic behavior from the individual managing the project. Shortly after, social media backlash intensified as the coin rapidly lost value.

She said she first became aware of the severity of the situation through online reactions, including claims she was facing legal consequences. The fallout escalated with accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme circulating across the crypto community.

Estimates suggest that around $200,000 in real investor funds may have been lost. Meanwhile, Welch indicated much of the activity surrounding the token involved speculative or malicious actors common in meme coin markets.

Cleared but Traumatized

Welch reiterated that she cooperated fully with authorities, including the FBI and the SEC, and was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing. However, she described the experience as deeply distressing, citing months of public backlash, threats, and reputational damage.

The incident, which followed the HAWK token’s dramatic rise to a reported $400 million market cap before crashing over 90%, has become another high-profile example of influencer-linked crypto failures.

“Stay Away From It”

In hindsight, Welch strongly advised others, especially influencers, to avoid similar ventures. She echoed sentiments Callaghan shared during the interview, revealing he had previously declined crypto offers early in his career.

Welch concluded that attaching one’s name to a crypto project without full understanding carries significant risks, both financially for investors and personally for those involved.

Related: ‘Hawk Tuah’ Meme Star Cleared by FBI and SEC in $400M HAWK Token Collapse, Says She’s Done With Crypto