Haliey Welch, a Tennessee native who rose to internet fame with her viral street interview, has broken her silence after a cryptocurrency called $HAWK crashed and a class action lawsuit was filed against her collaborators.
Welch released the cryptocurrency in July, which spiked in value but then plummeted by 90% within hours. Her partners and she faced tough questions from investors during an audio call on X (formerly Twitter), denying allegations of a scam. Welch remained silent for most of the conversation before abruptly ending it to go to bed.
The lawsuit claims her collaborators violated securities laws, with Welch facing no direct allegations. The class action suit names 12 plaintiffs who lost over $150,000, alleging that Welch’s celebrity status and connections were leveraged to create a speculative frenzy.
Welch has since acknowledged the situation, stating she takes it seriously and is cooperating with her legal team. She advised those affected to contact Burwick Law, which filed the suit.
The decision not to target Welch herself may suggest that she played no significant role in the project’s conception or distribution, serving only as a face for the token. Welch had received an upfront payment of $125,000 and owns 10% of the coin’s supply.
Welch’s cooperation with Burwick Law is unclear, but her digital paper trail could support the lawsuit’s allegations. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Welch’s influencer career may be affected by this scandal.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/hawk-tuah-meme-coin-haliey-welch-crypto-1235213606