Internet star Hailey Welch, known for her viral catchphrase "Hawk Tuah," has mysteriously disappeared from public view, sparking concern among her massive fan base. Her popular podcast, Talk Tuah, last aired on December 3, and Welch has been silent on social media ever since, leaving followers wondering about her sudden vanishing act.
Welch's meteoric rise seemed unstoppable. Her quirky "Hawk Tuah" video turned her into an overnight sensation, propelling her to launch a successful merchandise line and a podcast that dominated Spotify's charts. Her brand became synonymous with internet culture, and her influence seemed to grow daily—until controversy derailed her ascent.
On December 4, Welch ventured into the cryptocurrency space, introducing $HAWK, a memecoin tied to her brand. Initially, the coin soared in value, hitting a staggering market cap of hundreds of millions of dollars. However, the excitement was short-lived. Within minutes, $HAWK's value plummeted, erasing millions of dollars in investments. Fans who had poured their savings into the coin were left devastated, fueling accusations of insider trading and financial misconduct.
In an attempt to quell the outrage, Welch joined a live audio session on X (formerly Twitter) with her crypto partners from OverHere. However, her lighthearted attitude during the session drew sharp criticism. At one point, she said, "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," before abruptly leaving the discussion. This impromptu sign-off became her final public appearance, further enraging fans and investors.
Public reactions to Welch's silence have been polarized. Critics have labeled her disappearance as a "career-ending move," while others mockingly refer to her as "Sleeping Beauty." One social media user quipped, "Her career ended faster than $HAWK's market cap crash."
Meanwhile, the blame game among $HAWK's creators has intensified. Welch's crypto partners have accused Alex Larson Schultz, a music producer known as "Doc Hollywood" and the son-in-law of comedian Howie Mandel, of mismanaging the token's distribution and finances. Schultz has yet to address these allegations, adding to the mounting uncertainty.
Legal troubles have further compounded the scandal. On December 7, a group of investors who lost money in the $HAWK collapse filed a lawsuit against the coin's creators. The lawsuit alleges that $HAWK was an unregistered security, raising questions about the legality of the cryptocurrency's launch.
As Welch remains unreachable, her once-glowing career hangs in the balance. Fans and critics alike are left wondering if the internet sensation will ever return to address the controversy that has tarnished her brand.
