Haliey Welch rose to fame earlier this year. Credit: Michael Tullberg / GettyThe 22-year-old social media personality – better known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl” – went viral earlier this year after appearing in an interview during a night out with friends.
When asked to reveal one thing that could drive a man wild in the bedroom, Welch quipped: “You gotta give it that hawk tuah, and spit on that thing.”
The raunchy catchphrase spawned a showbiz career for Welch, who now hosts the popular Talk Tuah podcast.
While 2024 was a breakthrough year for Haliey, it has also brought significant challenges, as Welch faced controversy surrounding her involvement in cryptocurrency.
The podcast host launched her meme coin, $HAWK, hoping to capitalize on her online fame. Later, she described the venture as “a good way to interact with [her] fans”.
Inspired by internet trends, Meme coins have become a volatile force in the cryptocurrency market.
The initial surge in $HAWK’s value, reaching a $490 million market cap within hours, quickly turned sour. Within three hours, the coin’s value plummeted by a staggering 91%, according to CoinTelegraph.
This dramatic crash has fueled accusations from fans and investors that Hailey orchestrated a “rug pull” – a fraudulent scheme in the cryptocurrency world where developers abandon a project after raising funds from investors. This leaves them with worthless tokens or NFTs and the developers with the funds they raised.
Many fans took to X to complain about their alleged losses. Some people claimed to have lost their “life savings”, while others called for legal action to be taken against the star.
On Thursday (December 19), a lawsuit was filed by investors in the U.S. District Court in New York against the $HAWK creators, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Filed by investors, it accuses overHere Ltd., its founder, Clinton So, and social media influencer, Alex Larson Schultz, as well as the Tuah The Moon Foundation of unlawfully promoting and selling unregistered cryptocurrency.
After two weeks of silence, Welch took to her X platform to voice her commitment to helping those who have lost money. “I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community,” she penned on X.
“I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter,” she continued. “If you have experienced losses related to this, please contact Burwick Law using the link below.”
Welch has maintained she did not have an active role in the $HAWK coin rollout.
Read her post below:Despite her prominent role in promoting the cryptocurrency to her 2.6 million Instagram followers and podcast audience, the 22-year-old was not a named defendant in the lawsuit.
Welch had initially described the venture as a good way to interact with her fans.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has stepped in to defend the young creator in recent days, telling The Washington Post‘s Jules Terpak: “It wasn’t something she fully understood. But she trusted the people around her,” cited by The Independent.
Both overHere and So have denied wrongdoing, and defended Welch. “We have been extremely transparent about the limited scope and extent of our involvement in the Hawk Tuah token project,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail. “We are confident that we have done nothing wrong.”
Featured image credit: Michael Tullberg / Getty
‘Shawshank Redemption’ star William Sadler issues heartbreaking statement as his wife of 46 years tragically dies
William Sadler – known for his roles in Salem’s Lot and Roswell – has shared the heartbreaking news that his wife, Marni Joan Bakst, has passed away.
The 74-year-old actor announced Bakst’s passing in a heartfelt Facebook tribute on Thursday, December 19, sharing a touching throwback photo of the couple holding coffee mugs on the morning of their wedding day, May 6, 1978.
In his tribute, he revealed that Marni died following her battle with cancer.
“Early yesterday morning, my wife, Marni Bakst, finally lost her two year battle with cancer,” Sadler wrote. “After what has been an amazing forty five years of marriage I don’t think I can fathom or put into words much of this yet.”
The Shawshank Redemption star continued: “Maybe with time and a little distance I’ll find it easier to describe this extraordinary artist, feminist, wife, and mother, but for now I want to thank you all for your patience and kind words. Yours, Bill.”
The actor’s fans flooded the comments section with messages of support for the star, with one person writing: “So incredibly sorry to hear of Marni’s passing. My heart is with you.”
A second added: “Deepest sympathy, Marni was an amazing lady, kind and funny. Big hugs [to] you and your family. RiP Marni.”
Another penned: “May her memory always be a blessing to you and your family. I remember meeting her and she was absolutely amazing. My most sincere condolences.”
Throughout their 45 years of marriage, Sadler and Bakst welcomed one daughter, Sadler Colley Bakst.
On their 45th wedding anniversary last year, Sadler shared the same wedding-day photo, penning a loving tribute to his wife that encapsulated their bond. “This picture was taken the morning of our wedding, exactly forty five years ago today. The extraordinary looking young woman with the huge eyes is Ms. Marni Bakst. The lucky young man is me,” he wrote on May 6, 2023.
“All these years later I still bring her coffee, she still has those beautiful eyes, and I’m still the luckiest man on this, or any other planet. Happy Anniversary Marni! Love always, Bill,” the message continued.
Our thoughts go out to Sadler, as well as Bakst’s family and loved ones at this time.
Featured image credit: Nicholas Hunt / Getty
’90 Day Fiancé’ star David Murphey’s cause of death is revealed
David Murphey, a star in 90 Day Fiancé, passed away aged 66 and his cause of death has now been revealed.
Murphey’s family announced his passing on December 11, 2024, in a heartfelt statement, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that David Murphey, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away at home on December 11, 2024, after experiencing health issues over the last several years. He was 66 years old,” the statement read.
The family shared details of Murphey’s life, highlighting his career and personal passions: “David was a veteran, small business owner, and software engineer. He had recently retired from the Clark County Treasurer’s office in Nevada, having also worked for H&R Block and IGT.
“He was also well known for his time as a cast member on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days. His time on the show allowed him to connect with viewers, see the world, and share his experiences with his thousands of followers on Instagram.
“He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fans. David is survived by his two sisters and his cat, Gamera. The family asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
The statement also reflected on Murphey’s passion for animal welfare, particularly his love for cats.
“As many knew, David had a fierce love for cats. He always made an effort to adopt cats and give them a good loving home.
“David’s choice for adopting was from The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas. For friends and fans who want to help, we ask that you honor his memory by making a donation to The Animal Foundation in his name.”
His cause of death has been confirmed as heart-related complications, including cardiac arrhythmia and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, according to a statement from a Clark County, Nevada spokesperson shared with TMZ.
Murphey also had a history of pulmonary embolism—a potentially fatal blockage in a lung artery caused by a blood clot traveling from another part of the body. Officials have ruled his death as natural causes.
Additionally, sources told TMZ that Murphey had been battling liver cancer in the time leading up to his passing.
Murphey rose to fame as a cast member on the fourth season of the 90 Day Fiancé spinoff, which aired in 2020. The show chronicled couples who met online and their first in-person encounters.
Murphey’s storyline centered on his relationship with Lana, a woman he met on a Ukrainian dating website.
After multiple trips to Ukraine, the pair finally met in person on his fifth visit. The two became engaged but eventually went their separate ways.
Murphey discussed the split on a 2022 episode of 90 Day Diaries, per ET.
“She thought that, ‘Well, now that we’re engaged, now you can help me do the things that you promised,’ like, get her some English lessons, actually move her into an apartment,” Murphey shared.
“But part of my conditions for doing that was to get her off the [dating] website and she didn’t get off the websites, so I didn’t offer any of those bonuses, so four months into our engagement, we just stopped communicating.”
Our thoughts are with Murphey’s loved ones at this difficult time.
Featured image credit: Instagram / David Murphey
OnlyFans star Lily Phillips reveals the ‘insane’ logistics of how she’s going to sleep with 1000 men in a day
Lily Phillips has revealed the “insane” logistics of how she’s going to sleep with 1000 men in a day.
Phillips, a British OnlyFans creator, has gained fame online after sleeping with 101 men in one day – and now she’s ready to take things to the next level.
Speaking on The Reality Check podcast, the 23-year-old got candid about attempting to break a new world record for sleeping with the most men in 24 hours, with the previous being held by Lisa Sparks, who allegedly slept with 919 men in 2004.
“I want to get to 1,000 because 900 is weak. You may as well have got to 1,000,” said Phillips on the episode.
She went on to state that she’s currently training for the big day.
“This is why I’m training. I’ve done the 100, I’m doing 300 in a few weeks. As long as they’re in-out, in-out, it’s gonna be pretty quick,” she explained. “I think I’ll get sore towards the end but I’ve got the right determination to be able to push on.”
She continued: “My plan kind of is… it needs to be a room with two doors. The logistics are insane. It’s hard enough to get 1,000 guys together wanting to f*** me, it’s another thing making sure they all do it in the time limit.
“I’m just hoping for a conveyer belt of c***,” she noted, crudely. “They need to walk in the room, one pump in, one pump out and leave. That’s kind of how we’re gonna do it. A conveyer belt.”
Phillips also hoped that the ordeal wouldn’t last the full time limit, and instead, she’d be able to complete the task in 15-17 hours, even despite her previous event of 101 men taking 14 hours in total.
“That’s because I was chatting with them, they were taking their trousers off,” she said, revealing that the men got 5 minutes each, which included time to get them ready to perform.
She will also have some help from other OnlyFans models who will help the men out after they’ve used up their few seconds with her.
In terms of making money from the event, Phillips is not sure whether she plans to sell it.
“When doing 101 guys, it’s hard enough getting all the forms together, the admin of it,” she explained. “It’s more like the publicity around it that’s gonna get me the money. Going a bit more like viral.
“The money’s not a driving force for me at all. It’s success,” she added. “As in like, being a successful adult star. The world record hasn’t been broken in 20 years. It’s kind of sick. You will be known then for so long. I think it will really push up my career.”
Phillips will allegedly be embarking on her 300-man escapade over the weekend.
Featured Image Credit: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty
Jill Jacobson has died at the age of 70
Jill Jacobson has sadly passed away at the age of 70.
Her friend and publicist Daniel Harary confirmed the news to Variety on Sunday, (December 15), sharing that Jacobson died on December 8 at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Culver Health Center after battling a “long illness”.
The versatile actress was celebrated for her roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Falcon Crest, and Days of Our Lives.
Jacobson, a former spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, spoke openly about her struggle with esophageal cancer earlier this year. During a September appearance on The Jim Masters Show, she described how the illness impacted her life.
“What I went through was pretty intense. You can’t function, you just can’t function,” Jacobson said. “And now I’m so grateful, I just want to keep going, I want to help people. It makes you want to help people.”
Her manager, Ben Padua, also confirmed her death to Entertainment Weekly, remembering her as a one-of-a-kind talent.
“We are incredibly sad to say goodbye to our beautiful, soulful, hysterically funny, elegantly raunchy client, Jill Jacobson,” Padua said.
“Jill was a total spitfire of an actress with comedic timing straight out of a Marx Brothers’ flick and Hollywood glamour right from its golden age. Jill took us on so many adventures and she was an absolute blast. Thank you, Jill. We’ll see you in our dreams.”
A Career Spanning Film, TV, and Theater
Born in Texas, Jacobson studied radio, TV, and film performance at the University of Texas in Austin before heading to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
She made her film debut in 1977’s Nurse Sherri and Bad Georgia Road, eventually appearing in indie comedies such as Forbidden Love (1982), Baby Sister (1983), and Splash (1984).
Jacobson’s television career flourished in the 1980s and 1990s, highlighted by a recurring role as Erin Jones on Falcon Crest and appearances in Days of Our Lives, Quantum Leap, and Newhart. She left a lasting mark on the Star Trek universe, portraying two different guest roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Her most recent screen appearance was in the 2020 horror anthology series Etheria.
Outside of acting, Jacobson performed stand-up comedy at iconic Los Angeles venues, including The Comedy Store and Improv, and was beloved for her work in theater.
Remembered by Friends and Family
Caryn Richman, Jacobson’s co-star in The New Gidget, fondly recalled her as both a gifted comedian and a cherished friend.
“Jill’s comic timing was brilliant. And her enthusiasm and love of life made our time together on set joyful,” Richman told Deadline.
Jacobson’s family also paid tribute, sharing a heartfelt statement through Deadline: “Beautiful, energetic, and positive to the end, she will be deeply missed by numerous relatives, friends, and her beloved dogs Benny and Kowalski.”
Our thoughts go out to Jacobson’s family, friends, and fans at this time.
Featured image credit: Beck Starr / Getty
Friend who saw Liam Payne an hour before his death makes bombshell claim in new documentary
A friend who was with Liam Payne an hour before he tragically died has opened up about how the singer was prior to the incident.
As widely reported, the One Direction star, 31, died on October 16 after suffering “internal and external hemorrhaging” after falling from a third-floor balcony.
The incident occurred at the CasaSur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne’s close friend, Roger Nores, has since shared new insights into the One Direction star’s tragic death.
Nores, a businessman from Argentina who befriended Payne in 2020 at a Vogue event in London, was with the singer on the day he died.
In a recent interview featured in the new documentary TMZ Investigates: Liam Payne: Who’s to Blame?, Nores pushed back against reports that Payne had been in a frenzied state before his death, instead describing him as “in good spirits”.
Nores revealed details of their final interaction, describing Payne as relaxed and cheerful.
“I’m a very good friend of Liam, and I was with him the day that he passed away,” Nores said in the documentary.
“He was in good spirits. He was like talking to 10 or 15 Americans that were here for a wedding. And so he was talking to them, and he was joking around.”
Recalling when he left the hotel that day, Nores added: “I left like at 4:05, or so, and he was in good spirits. He was perfectly balanced, like talking to everybody, having fun, laughing, so nothing out of the ordinary and that’s when I said, ‘Okay, bye.’”
The documentary also addresses accusations of abandonment that Nores faced after Payne’s death, a claim he denies and which has not resulted in any charges.
He explained that he returned to the hotel multiple times to check on Payne, who had appeared “tipsy” earlier in the day but “nothing out of the ordinary.”
When questioned by TMZ’s Harvey Levin about Payne’s state an hour before the fall, Nores reiterated: “He seemed playful and happy.”
Despite Nores’ account, other reports suggest Payne was intoxicated and disorderly in the hours leading to his death.
These claims are contrary to reports that a manager made a concerned call about the singer just moments before his death.
The manager, identified as Esteban, described the situation, noting Payne’s room had a balcony, which raised fears for his safety, per Sky News.
Esteban urgently requested medical and police assistance, stating: “We are asking to send someone with urgency because I don’t know if the guest’s life is in danger.”
Emergency personnel were dispatched, but tragically, Payne fell to his death before help arrived.
In the wake of Payne’s death, the receptionist manager Esteban Reynaldo Grassi and the hotel’s operations manager Gilda Agustina Martín have been charged.
While the exact nature of the charges remains undisclosed, court documents obtained by Rolling Stone state: “Since there is sufficient reason to suspect that they have participated in the investigated act, we ask that the following people give a statement.”
Both are scheduled to appear in court on December 19.
