Hailey Welch, known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” shot to viral fame in 2024 after her risqué quote in a street interview became an internet sensation. But what started as a meme quickly spiraled into controversy after a string of questionable moves that left fans divided.

Welch leveraged her viral moment to launch merch, build a following, and start business ventures. One of her biggest decisions came when she reportedly sold her “HawkCoinX” Instagram account, with nearly 400,000 followers, for a staggering $325,000. The page was later rebranded as “Up Only Memes.”

But that wasn’t her first controversial headline.

In late 2024, she launched a $HAWK memecoin, which quickly crashed, losing over 90% of its value. Some investors claimed they lost their life savings. While Welch cooperated with authorities, her attorney confirmed she faced no SEC charges.

She then attempted to rebrand, launching the Talk Tuah podcast with Jake Paul’s media company, Betr, and appearing in celebrity poker tournaments.

However, her comeback video—mocking rumors of her death, pregnancy, and jail time—sparked major backlash. Many labeled it “tone deaf,” especially after the financial fallout from her crypto project.

Despite her efforts to pivot, public opinion remains mixed, and forgiveness is still far from guaranteed.