Hailey Welch, popularly recognized as the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl, continues to be at the center of a scandal at VidCon 2025. During a live taping of her podcast Talk Tuah on Thursday evening, co-hosted with Chelsea Bradford and featuring guest Whitney Cummings, Welch found it challenging to keep the audience engaged.

Welch, who rose to fame through a viral meme in 2024, is also connected to a significant cryptocurrency debacle. In November 2024, she introduced her digital currency $HAWK, which swiftly crashed, resulting in substantial losses for investors. Following weeks of silence, Welch released a statement in December 2024 and subsequently shared a video addressing the situation.

The podcast, conducted at Spotify’s Podcast Theater during VidCon 2025, kicked off with an enthusiastic crowd chanting “Hawk Tuah” as Welch, Bradford, and Cummings made their entrance. Cummings took the initiative in guiding the discussion, while Welch took on a guest-like position. As Cummings talked about Welch’s ascent as a content creator, Welch credited her success to being “in the right place at the wrong time.” The audience’s rowdiness prompted Cummings to frequently urge them to “Shut the fuck up,” which affected the mood and caused some attendees to leave. As Cummings transitioned into her comedic routines, even more people departed.

Welch shared her aspiration of being killed in a horror film, while Cummings motivated her to create her own movie. Cummings recounted her experiences in Hollywood, encouraging Welch and the audience to produce their own works. Her remarks touched upon the nepotism in Hollywood and depicted the industry as filled with “nerds trying to meet hot women.” Cummings’ insights regarding her challenges as a taller woman in the entertainment field led to additional exits.

YouTuber Jack Manifold took to X, sharing his disappointment over the slurs voiced during the podcast with the hashtag #notmyhaliey.

As the podcast progressed, the atmosphere settled during a question-and-answer session. When queried about her cryptocurrency launch that led to financial losses and a lawsuit, Welch sidestepped the query, implying the situation would have been different if a man had been involved.

By the conclusion of the panel, roughly half of the initial audience remained, eager to discuss Welch’s life and career with her.

Mashable will be on site at the Anaheim Convention Center this week, reporting on VidCon 2025. Stay tuned to Mashable.com for updates, where we’ll engage with your favorite creators, cover the latest trends, and share insights into how creators are broadening their reach and earning a living online.