'Hawk Tuah' girl live event turns messy as she talks about crypto scam, Hollywood ambitions and more

Haliey Welch (famously known as the "Hawk Tuah" girl) recently participated in a podcast at VidCon 2025. The event which started on a high-energy note soon turned into a chaotic spectacle, as the Hawk Tuah girl faced a lot of criticism, backlash and walkouts for her controversial crypto venture. The podcast which was held at Spotify’s Podcast Theatre featured Welch, along with co-host Chelsea Bardford and comedian Whitney Cummings. Initially the crowd at the event erupted with a chants of ‘Hawk Tuah’, but the vibe quickly changed as Cummings repeatedly scolded the audience as asked them to ‘shut the f*** up,” tampering the energy and prompting early exists. As the discussion progressed, it touched upon various unexpected topics, including Cummings' raunchy comedy and explicit mentions, which prompted more attendees to leave.The tension rose further when an audience member asked Welch about her failed cryptocurrency, $HAWK. Launched in 2024, the memecoin crash soon after its debut, reportedly costing millions of dollars to the investors and also sparking a lawsuit. In response to the question, Welch said, “Does this look like the face of a girl who could talk to you about crypto?" She further suggested that if a man had been involved in a similar crypto scandal, he "probably would have been promoted."Apart from the crypto controversy, Welch also talked about her aspiration of joining Hollywood. Cummings encouraged Welch to pursue her Hollywood filmmaking independently and told her not to wait for industry opportunities. " Cummings' candid (and at times explicit) commentary on the industry also contributed to audience discomfort and further departures.By the end of the recording, approximately half of the original audience had reportedly exited the venue.