Internet reacts to Hawk Tuah Girl’s return following meme coin collapse: 'Scammed millions, dipped and came back for more'

Hailey Welch’s comeback video reignites backlash as internet calls out her silence on the $HAWK coin scandal.

Hailey Welch, widely known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, has returned to social media following her months-long hiatus after being caught in a crypto scandal involving her meme coin, $HAWK. The 22-year-old posted a new comedic video on Instagram this week, poking fun at the wild internet rumors about her absence, including theories about being pregnant, jailed, or completely vanished.

Welch initially rose to fame in mid-2024 after going viral in a street-style interview where she made a suggestive noise that was dubbed “Hawk Tuah.” Capitalizing on the viral fame, she launched the $HAWK meme coin on the Solana blockchain. But the digital currency quickly tanked, dropping from a $490 million valuation to just $29.1 million within 24 hours—sparking accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Haliey Welch (@hay_welch)

“I was hoping that her 30 seconds of fame was over,” one X user wrote, while another slammed her comeback: “So she thinks 3 months is all it takes for people to forget you stole from them?” Another post that summed up the frustration read, “Scammed millions, dipped and came back for more.”

I was hoping that her 30 seconds of fame was over.

— Brad Willis (@bradfordwillis) March 26, 2025

So she thinks 3 months is all it takes for people to forget you stole them?

— Yves (@Koffee_Yves) March 25, 2025

Scammed millions, dipped and came back for more 😭

— Unknown (@txffy838) March 25, 2025

Critics didn't hold back. “This is what y’all get for making talentless people who have an entertaining personality famous,” said one user. “They scam and don’t get held accountable for it.”

Others questioned whether she planned to repay those who lost money. “So is she going to refund the people who lost money?” one asked, while another sarcastically added, “Was expecting an apology video with a ukulele or an interpretive dance… forgot she doesn’t have any form of talent like that.”

So is she going to refund the people who lost money? pic.twitter.com/9Ecr6jgxrE

— SUAREZ (@suayrez) March 25, 2025

Welch had initially claimed she was working with affected investors to resolve the matter, but soon went silent—ceasing all podcast uploads and disappearing from her accounts. Her sudden return with a skit, rather than an apology, has reignited criticism from across the internet.

Amid the backlash, a documentary on Hailey’s viral rise is reportedly in the works. Bungalow Media + Entertainment is producing the project, which CEO Bob Friedman described as “both an inspiring and entertaining story of Hailey’s journey, and a lens into what it means to navigate the risks and rewards that come with living in the public’s eye.”

Whether the internet forgives Welch remains uncertain, but it’s clear her return has stirred up more controversy than celebration.