- Haliey Welch has released and subsequently removed a new episode of her “Talk Tuah” podcast
- The episode featured a discussion with Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengtson about her HAWK memecoin controversy
- Following the episode’s leak, FaZe Banks has criticized Welch’s team for mishandling the situation
Haliey Welch, widely recognized as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, has re-emerged with a new episode of her “Talk Tuah” podcast, which was promptly taken down after its release. The episode included a conversation with Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengtson, founder and CEO of FaZe Clan, focusing on Welch’s HAWK memecoin debacle which saw the coin’s developers hit with a lawsuit. After the episode leaked online, FaZe Banks expressed his dissatisfaction with Welch’s team, alleging mismanagement and potential market manipulation.
Podcast Release and Removal
After a prolonged absence following the collapse of her HAWK memecoin, Welch returned with a fresh installment of her podcast following weeks of silence on social media. This episode featured a dialogue with FaZe Banks, along with guests such as DeGods creator Rohun “Frank” Vora and influencer Threadguy.
The discussion centered on Welch’s experience with the HAWK launch, the subsequent backlash after its collapse, and her time away from the public eye. Shortly after its release, the episode was inexplicably removed from Welch’s YouTube channel. Despite this, copies of the episode began circulating on social media platforms:
🚨LEAKED🚨
Full @HalieyWelchX Talk Tuah Episode with @Banks
Hawk Tuah finally wakes up!
00:00 INTRO
00:40 HALIEY MESSED UP
2:26 HALIEY’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT
4:00 ALL OF HALIEY’S INCOME FROM THIS EP IS GOING TO ANIMAL CHARITIES
5:00 BEHIND THE SCENES OF $HAWK COIN LAUNCH… pic.twitter.com/PZpbREnQng— Nick O’Neill (@chooserich) February 6, 2025
In the episode, Welch states that she was convinced to cash in on her 15 minutes with the token drop, trusting in the founders and the developers to do it fairly. This, she says, they failed to do, with the creators making millions from trading the coin, while she received only $100,000.
FaZe Banks Criticizes Welch’s Team
In response to the leak, FaZe Banks took to X to voice his concerns, stating that his participation was contingent upon strict conditions, including keeping the episode under wraps to avoid market manipulation and ensuring a resolution regarding the funds generated from the memecoin.
Banks claimed that Welch’s team had assured him the episode would not be published without his approval and expressed frustration over the premature release and the subsequent surge in the memecoin’s value, which temporarily jumped 50% when the episode was leaked:
So in an attempt to hear Haliey Welch’s side of the Crypto scam story, I agreed to do her first podcast back.
I had heavy stipulations including;
1) Not allowing markets to be manipulated by leaking this episodes existence before a resolution was found.
2) Her team finding… pic.twitter.com/X3TW5nZmtR
— FaZe Banks (@Banks) February 6, 2025
Having been accused of conducting a “rug pull,” Welch used the episode to defend herself, saying she did not have an active role in the coin’s creation and launch. Following its 90% collapse, Welch abruptly withdrew from public engagements, and legal actions were initiated against her business associates. In the podcast, Welch conveyed her lingering unease regarding the incident, stating, “I’m still a little shook up about it.”
