It started with two words and a playful spit gesture on a Nashville street corner. Suddenly, Haliey Welch wasn’t just a 21-year-old girl from a bedspring factory in Belfast, Tennessee; she was the "Hawk Tuah Girl." The internet swallowed her whole, spat her back out as a global meme, and then—like it always does—started asking where she went when the initial dust settled.
If you're wondering where is the hawk tuah girl now, the answer isn't as simple as her just fading into the background of internet history. Honestly, her 2025 and early 2026 have been a weird, sometimes messy, but undeniably busy mix of high-stakes legal drama, a podcasting "rebirth," and even a Hollywood cameo that most people didn't see coming.
The Crypto Crash That Almost Ended It All
By late 2024, Welch was riding high. She had the merch, the massive following, and a deal with Jake Paul’s media company, Betr. But then came the $HAWK token. It was a meme coin launched on the Solana blockchain that, for a hot second, looked like it was going to make everyone rich. The market cap hit nearly $500 million before it absolutely cratered, losing 90% of its value in what felt like a blink.
People were furious. Investors started screaming "pump and dump," and for a few months, Welch basically vanished. "I’ll see you guys tomorrow," she said on a late-night X (formerly Twitter) stream in December 2024, and then she didn't post for weeks.
The fallout was real. There were lawsuits, though Welch herself wasn't named as a primary defendant. She eventually had to deal with the big guns: the FBI and the SEC. On an episode of her podcast in May 2025, she finally broke the silence, admitting she’d been interrogated. The good news for her? The SEC closed the investigation in early 2025 without finding any wrongdoing on her part. She claimed she only got a marketing fee and never made a dime from the actual coin's price action. Still, the vibe was shifted.
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Talk Tuah: The 2026 Comeback
The podcast, Talk Tuah, is where she’s doing most of her heavy lifting these days. After the crypto scandal, she actually split from Jake Paul’s Betr Holdings. It was a "mutual" move, but it signaled a massive shift. She’s now running her own production company to keep full control over her voice.
As of January 2026, the podcast is still alive and kicking, though it’s definitely seen some turbulence. If you caught the news about VidCon 2025, you know things got a little wild. A live taping with Whitney Cummings reportedly led to audience walkouts after some controversial jokes. It’s a reminder that the transition from "viral meme" to "professional broadcaster" is a steep climb.
She’s had some heavy hitters on the show, though:
- Mark Cuban (talking business, ironically right before the crypto crash).
- Wiz Khalifa and JoJo Siwa.
- Whitney Cummings (multiple times, for better or worse).
From Tennessee to Hulu
Believe it or not, Haliey is moving into actual acting. She’s set to appear in the Hulu series Chad Powers, starring Glen Powell. She isn't playing a deep character; she’s appearing as herself in a cameo during a club scene. It’s a smart move—leaning into the "famous for being famous" angle while getting that Hollywood credit on her resume.
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There’s also a documentary in the works titled DocTuah. Produced by Bungalow Media + Entertainment, it’s supposed to be the "tell-all" about how a girl from a factory in a town of 600 people ended up being a household name.
Paws Across America: The Passion Project
If you follow her socials today—where she still has over 2 million followers on Instagram—you’ll see a lot less "Hawk Tuah" and a lot more dogs. She founded Paws Across America, a non-profit aimed at supporting animal shelters.
She’s been pretty vocal about the fact that the fame was disorienting. She’s used her "financial blessings," as she calls them, to fund grants for nonprofits across the country. In early 2026, she’s been focused on a personal mission to visit as many animal shelters in Tennessee as possible. It’s a pivot that feels a lot more "human" than the crypto-shilling days of 2024.
What’s the Current Status?
So, basically, Haliey Welch is currently:
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- A Podcaster: Running Talk Tuah independently.
- A Business Owner: Managing her own brand away from the initial "viral" agencies.
- A Philanthropist: Driving the Paws Across America initiative.
- An Actor: Making cameos and filming her own documentary.
She’s still living in Nashville with her grandmother, which keeps her somewhat grounded despite the "Ghetto Dolly Parton" label some people have tried to stick on her. She’s 22 now, and while the "Hawk Tuah" phrase is definitely a bit dated in 2026, she’s managed to stay relevant by leaning into the lifestyle and entertainment space.
If you’re looking to follow her current journey, the best bet is checking her Talk Tuah YouTube channel or her Instagram (@hay_welch). She’s moved past the "spit" joke and is clearly trying to build something that lasts longer than a 15-second TikTok clip.
Real-World Insights for Following Influencer Trajectories
Watching Haliey Welch is a masterclass in modern fame. If you're interested in how viral stars survive the "cycle," pay attention to her moves over the next six months.
- Check the legal filings: While she was cleared by the SEC, the civil lawsuits from the $HAWK crash are a reminder to always vet the financial projects your favorite creators promote.
- Watch the pivot: Notice how she’s moved from NSFW humor to animal advocacy. This is a classic "brand softening" tactic used to secure long-term corporate sponsorships.
- Tune into the documentary: When DocTuah drops, it will likely be the definitive look at the "hidden" side of her viral explosion.
Keep an eye on her podcast guest list—it’s the best indicator of who in the "A-list" world still thinks she has staying power.