Haliey Welch, widely known as the “Hawk tuah girl,” revealed that the FBI briefly investigated her following the failed launch of the Hawk Tuah (HAWK) memecoin, a token based on her viral catchphrase.
In a May 21 episode of her “Talk Tuah” podcast, Welch described how FBI agents came to her grandmother’s house seeking to question her about the token, which many in the crypto community have labelled an exit scam.
Welch recounted that after the coin’s launch, the FBI knocked on her grandmother’s door, causing her grandmother to panic. Welch then met with the agents, who interrogated her about the project and cryptocurrency in general. She cooperated fully, handing over her phone for inspection, and was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also requested her phone for review, which she provided for two to three days before being cleared. Welch’s lawyer confirmed that the SEC closed its investigation without any findings or sanctions against her.
The HAWK memecoin launched in early December but quickly lost 90% of its value. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps reported that insider wallets and snipers manipulated the token by buying and dumping large quantities at launch. Welch admitted to having limited knowledge of crypto before the project and said she “trusted the wrong people” who managed the launch and controlled her social media promotion. She claimed a company, which she could not name due to legal reasons, controlled her X (formerly Twitter) account and posted promotional videos without her full awareness. Welch said she was only paid a marketing fee and did not profit from the coin itself, as all funds were spent on legal and PR costs.
Notably, South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum faced public backlash and professional setbacks after admitting in court to using approximately $3.1 million of her family’s agency funds for cryptocurrency investments. Broadcasters removed her from a show, and advertisers ended contracts. While her legal team claims the funds were personal earnings, Hwang has begun repaying the amount by selling crypto and plans to sell real estate.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
