Hawk Tuah Girl Haley Welch Replaces Actress: 490M Dollars Crypto Crash Follows

Haley Welch, the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” replaced actress Brittney Rae Carrera in Chad Powers, sparking controversy. However, Haley Welch faced bigger scandal when her HAWK coin crashed 90% from 490 million dollars market cap, with 80-90% supply controlled by small wallets executing apparent rug pull. The 21-year-old now faces fraud accusations.

The Chad Powers Casting Drama

Footage has emerged of actress Brittney Rae Carrera finding out she was replaced in Glen Powell’s new series Chad Powers with Haley Welch, the “hawk tuah” girl. Another day, another heated debate dividing the internet! This time around, Hulu’s new football comedy Chad Powers finds itself at center of casting drama taking over TikTok and Instagram feeds.

Co-created by Michael Waldron and Glen Powell, Chad Powers tells the story of Russ Holliday (Powell), a superstar quarterback whose career comes to disastrous halt. Eight years after getting canceled, Holliday uses prosthetics to disguise himself as Chad Powers, walks on to tryouts, and gets second chance at pro football career as South Georgia Catfish QB.

The two-episode premiere on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 covered substantial ground and even included surprise cameo from internet star Haley Welch. Powell’s character excitedly meets her in club, recites her classic “Spit on that thang!” advice, and turns her off so much that she asks him not to tell anyone they met. It was random, funny, oddly relevant appearance since both are high-profile people who experienced downfalls.

But when comedian Brittney Rae Carrera posted video to her social accounts claiming Chad Powers unknowingly replaced her with hawk tuah, fans started questioning the lighthearted cameo. Carrera, a 31-year-old comedian, writer, actor, and director, shared footage from her Chad Powers watch party to TikTok and Instagram. The video shows her friends gathered in front of television, allegedly waiting to behold her debut.

Instead of seeing Carrera on screen, when Welch’s scenes begin, an emotional Carrera pauses the episode and screams, “THEY REPLACED ME WITH HAWK TUAH?!” As Carrera’s friends stare at TV in silence, some still recording on phones, a distraught Carrera tears a flag off her wall featuring Glen Powell photo and his dog Biscuit, leaving the room screaming.

So is Carrera telling truth? Was she actually “replaced by hawk tuah” and shocked to learn about recasting? Or was this yet another comedy video tricking followers because Carrera is good actor seriously committed to the bit?

Why Haley Welch Got The Role

When asked about Haley Welch’s cameo in LATimes interview, Waldron explained: “As far as Hailey, we were just thinking about, ‘Who is someone else who was defined by single viral moment and now lives in shadow of that?’ And of course, she’s great contemporary version of that. We just reached out and she was incredibly game. I don’t think she acted before, and she showed up and was great, was so funny.”

This explanation supports recasting scenario. If Carrera was originally cast but Haley Welch became available later, Chad Powers team likely wouldn’t pass up opportunity to include flashier cameo. Compared to Carrera’s 250,000 Instagram followers, Welch has 2.3 million—a significant reach advantage for series promotion.

In interview with People, Welch noted that “they ended up changing [the script] a bit,” which sounds like it supports Carrera’s recasting claims. However, it’s worth noting comment sections on Carrera’s Instagram and TikTok videos feature quite bit of sympathy, disbelief, and outrage over her surprise recasting claims, suggesting some people genuinely believe they’re rooted in truth.

On December 28, 2024, Carrera posted Instagram carousel including Chad Powers teaser and what appear to be photos of her in trailer and Chad Powers casting list featuring her name. On September 30, she posted even more photos of her in wardrobe, Glen Powell’s wig in hair and makeup trailer, another cast list shot, photo of outside of her trailer (labeled “CLUB GIRL”), and more photos heavily implying she was on set.

Hours after initial controversy, Welch posted Instagram Story addressing situation: “Hey guys, I’ve been tagged in a lot of videos of @brittneyraeallday saying I ‘replaced her’ in Chad Powers. I’ve been in contact with her and we’re cool. I wasn’t aware the role had been filled prior. It was as simple as this: I was called and asked to be in TV series with Glen Powell and I said yes (bc duh it’s Glen Powell).”

Carrera also posted Instagram Story clarifying: “I am not upset with Hailey Welch at all. I hope one day she will teach me how to spit on that thang.” So it seems Carrera’s video wasn’t long elaborate comedy con some suspected, but rather genuine surprise handled with eventual grace.

The 490 Million Dollars Crypto Catastrophe

Who is Haley Welch beyond viral fame? The casting drama pales compared to scandal that followed. Haley Welch launched her cryptocurrency HAWK on Solana blockchain. Initially, the token skyrocketed in value, reaching market cap of nearly 490 million dollars within hours. However, excitement was short-lived as coin’s value plummeted by over 90% shortly after peak, resulting in massive losses for investors.

Investigations revealed suspicious activity, including small group of wallets controlling 80-90% of token’s supply. These entities quickly sold their holdings after price surged—a tactic commonly referred to as rug pull. Welch faces accusations of orchestrating the scheme, although she denies any wrongdoing.

Hawk Tuah Coin Collapse Timeline

Launch: HAWK token debuts on Solana with massive promotional push

Peak: Market cap reaches 490 million dollars within hours of launch

Crash: Value plummets 90%+ as insider wallets dump holdings

Investigation: Reveals 80-90% supply controlled by small wallet group

Aftermath: Investors lose millions, Welch faces fraud accusations

The collapse offers valuable lessons for crypto investors regarding risks associated with celebrity-backed tokens and meme coins. Meme coins often rely on hype rather than fundamentals. The initial surge in HAWK’s value was fueled by Welch’s popularity and aggressive promotion, which masked its lack of intrinsic value.

Celebrity Crypto Schemes: A Recurring Pattern

What happened to Haley Welch’s reputation? The crypto disaster destroyed credibility built through viral fame. Celebrities frequently endorse or launch crypto projects, but their involvement doesn’t guarantee legitimacy. Past incidents with figures like Kim Kardashian and Floyd Mayweather highlight recurring pattern of failed celebrity-endorsed tokens resulting in investor losses and regulatory scrutiny.

The dominance of few wallets in HAWK’s ecosystem made token vulnerable to manipulation. Newly launched coins are highly volatile and prone to exploitation. In HAWK’s case, lack of regulatory oversight compounded risks, as decentralized finance promotes inclusivity but its openness can be exploited by bad actors.

How much is Haley Welch worth after the scandal? Her net worth likely declined significantly as reputational damage affects future endorsement opportunities and potential legal liabilities from investor lawsuits. While exact figures remain undisclosed, the crypto collapse transformed her from rising internet celebrity into controversial figure associated with financial fraud allegations.

Regulators like SEC are already investigating such cases, which may lead to stricter rules on token launches and promotions. The hawk tuah incident underscores need for stricter oversight of crypto markets, especially celebrity-backed projects.

Where Is Haley Welch Now?

Where is Haley Welch today? Following the crypto scandal, Welch’s public presence decreased dramatically. Her social media activity declined as legal implications from HAWK token collapse potentially constrain public communications. The casting drama resolution with Carrera represents rare recent public appearance, suggesting Welch may be maintaining lower profile while investigations continue.

The Chad Powers cameo, filmed before crypto launch, now carries unfortunate irony. The scene where Powell’s character enthusiastically recites her viral phrase before she rejects him mirrors public sentiment shift—initial excitement giving way to rejection as underlying issues surface. This parallel wasn’t intentional but became prophetically accurate.

How old is Haley Welch? The 21-year-old’s youth adds complexity to the situation. Some argue her age suggests naivety exploited by sophisticated crypto operators, while critics contend she willingly participated in scheme targeting her fanbase. The truth likely sits somewhere between these extremes—partial understanding of mechanics combined with misplaced trust in advisors managing token launch.

Lessons From The Hawk Tuah Disasters

The dual scandals—casting replacement and crypto collapse—offer distinct lessons. The casting situation demonstrates entertainment industry’s preference for viral reach over established talent, potentially unfair but commercially rational. The crypto disaster reveals far more serious pattern of celebrity-backed tokens exploiting fan communities for financial gain.

Red Flags Investors Missed

· Rapid price surges followed by sharp declines indicating pump-and-dump mechanics

· Concentrated ownership by insiders or “snipers” controlling majority supply

· Lack of clear use case or roadmap beyond trading speculation

· Celebrity involvement without transparent team or technical documentation

· Aggressive promotional tactics emphasizing “don’t miss out” messaging

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For long-term success in crypto, focus on projects with robust fundamentals, transparency, and proven utility rather than viral personalities or meme appeal alone.

FAQ

What happened to Haley Welch?

Haley Welch faced dual scandals in 2025. She replaced actress Brittney Rae Carrera in Chad Powers series, then her HAWK meme coin collapsed 90% from 490 million dollars market cap amid rug pull allegations. Investigations revealed 80-90% supply controlled by few wallets, with Welch denying wrongdoing while facing potential SEC investigation.

Where is Haley Welch?

Where is Haley Welch today? Her current location is undisclosed, but she maintains reduced social media presence following HAWK token collapse. She addressed Chad Powers casting drama via Instagram Story but has been relatively quiet publicly as crypto scandal investigation continues.

Who is Haley Welch?

Haley Welch is the 21-year-old internet personality who went viral in 2024 as the “Hawk Tuah Girl” after her phrase “Spit on that thang!” became ubiquitous meme. She parlayed viral fame into Chad Powers cameo and HAWK cryptocurrency launch, though the latter resulted in massive investor losses.

How old is Haley Welch?

Haley Welch is 21 years old as of 2025. Her youth factors into debates about culpability in HAWK token collapse, with some arguing she was exploited by sophisticated crypto operators while others contend she willingly participated in scheme.

How much is Haley Welch worth?

How much is Haley Welch worth? Her exact net worth is undisclosed, but it likely declined significantly following HAWK token collapse and associated reputational damage. Initial viral fame probably generated hundreds of thousands through endorsements, but legal liabilities from crypto scandal may offset those earnings.

Did Haley Welch really replace Brittney Rae Carrera?

Yes, according to both parties’ Instagram Stories addressing the situation. Welch stated she “wasn’t aware the role had been filled prior” and simply said yes when asked to appear with Glen Powell. Carrera confirmed she’s “not upset with Hailey Welch at all,” resolving the public drama amicably.

Is Haley Welch facing criminal charges?

As of December 2025, no criminal charges have been publicly announced, though SEC investigations into celebrity-backed crypto schemes may target HAWK token launch. Civil lawsuits from investors who lost money remain possible, but criminal prosecution depends on proving intentional fraud versus negligence.

What was the Hawk Tuah coin?

HAWK was a meme coin launched by Haley Welch on Solana blockchain that reached 490 million dollars market cap before crashing 90% within hours. Investigations revealed concentrated ownership and alleged rug pull mechanics, with insiders controlling 80-90% of supply dumping tokens after retail investors bought in.