The Hawk Tuah Girl has broken her silence and spoken out for the first time since the controversy surrounding her new cryptocurrency.
The viral sensation - real name Haliey Welch - has kept her silence on social media since she first addressed the scandal two weeks ago. And seen as though most of us haven't been able to escape the 21-year-old's presence online over the last six months, that's really saying something.
Welch, who hails from Belfast, Tennessee, has been grabbing all of the opportunities presented to her with both hands.
Among other things, she has quit her day job, sang on stage with country music star Zach Bryan, started a merch line and launched a podcast.
It's crazy where drunkenly sharing tips on how to master the art of fellatio can get you, isn't it?
Keen to capitalise on her success - which as we all know, can be fleeting when you become famous as a viral star - Welch also branched out into crypto.
The coin, which is named '$HAWK token', became available on 4 December and quickly soared to a value of $490 million (£384 million). But just hours after it launched, it's worth nosedived dramatically.
It flopped by more than 90 percent, according to CoinTelegraph, and was then trading at a value $41.7 million (£32.6 million).
Those who invested in the $HAWK token - which was heavily promoted online before it's launch - have collectively lost millions.
Haliey Welch shot to viral fame earlier this year after sharing her tips to keep your man happy (YouTube/Tim & Dee TV)
As well as taking to social media to slam Hawk Tuah Girl, a host of furious buyers have launched legal proceedings too.
A federal lawsuit has been filed in the US by Burwick Law on the behalf of 12 claimants, against the actual creators of the coin - overHere Ltd and it's founder Clinton So.
Social media influencer Alex Larson Schultz and the Tuah The Moon Foundation have also been named in the lawsuit.
It accuses them of unlawfully promoting and selling cryptocurrency, which was was allegedly never properly registered.
Welch only fronted the $HAWK token and she has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
She has now found herself at the centre of a cryptocurrency scandal (Instagram/@hay_welch)
A dozen plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $151,000 (£120,000).
A number of people who were left out of pocket have filed complained with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In wake of the scandal, Welch shared a statement on X on 4 December responding to the backlash.
The post read: "Hawkanomics: Team hasn’t sold one token and not 1 KOL was given 1 free token. We tried to stop snipers as best we could through high fee’s in the start of launch on @MeteoraAG. Fee’s have now been dropped."
Now, following two weeks of social media silence, Welch has issued a statement on X.
It reads: "I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community.
"I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter.
"If you have experienced losses related to this, please contact Burwick Law using the link below: https://burwick.law/newclient. @BurwickLaw."
Her lawyer, Christian Barker, said that she was paid £98,135 ($125,000) to promote the $HAWK token and was promised a 50 percent share of the net proceeds after expenses, according to the International Business Times.
English (US) ·