Doc Hollywood, the online alias of Alexander Larson Schultz, became the central figure in a class-action lawsuit after the Solana-based $HAWK memecoin collapsed by more than 90% within hours of its December 4, 2024, launch, according to Bitcoin.com News and Brave New Coin reporting. The 37-year-old Los Angeles DJ, music producer, and songwriter acted as crypto mentor to viral star Hailey Welch and pushed for the token’s launch, which briefly reached a market capitalization of nearly $500 million before crashing. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, names Schultz, Tuah The Moon Foundation, overHere Ltd, and Clinton So as defendants, but does not name Welch herself.
The Real Identity Behind the Alias
Alexander Larson Schultz, who also goes by Alex Larson and Lex Larson on social media, is a Los Angeles-based music industry veteran, according to Bitcoin.com News. His IMDb profile lists credits on films including Logan, We Are Your Friends, and Keanu. He began his music career at age 15 with childhood friend Louie Rubio, and their first single, “We Run LA,” became a regular spin on Ryan Seacrest’s Top 40 radio show.
In 2015, Schultz and Rubio joined DJ Felli Fel to form The Americanos, a group that signed to Interscope Records and released the single “BlackOut” featuring Lil Jon, Juicy J, and Tyga.
Family Ties to Howie Mandel
Schultz is the son-in-law of comedian Howie Mandel, according to Bitcoin.com News. He married Mandel’s daughter, Jackelyn, in July 2013, and the couple has two children together. The connection drew additional attention because Mandel had previously published pro-crypto content covering NFTs and Bitcoin on his show “Howie Mandel Does Stuff.”
Transition to Cryptocurrency
The timeline of Schultz’s transition into cryptocurrency is not entirely clear, according to Bitcoin.com News. However, he eventually teamed up with overHere Ltd, founded by Clinton So, to launch the $HAWK token built on Solana. According to the December 2024 lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York and reported by Brave New Coin, Schultz acted as Welch’s crypto mentor and was the driving force behind the token launch. The complaint, filed by Burwick Law on behalf of investors, alleges he and other defendants illegally promoted unregistered securities.
The HAWK Token Collapse
HAWK launched on December 4, 2024, briefly hitting a market capitalization of nearly $500 million before crashing by more than 90% within hours, according to court filings reported by Brave New Coin. Many first-time crypto investors lost significant sums.
The fallout was immediate. Welch’s team organized an X Spaces audio event the following day to address concerns. Investigative journalist Stephen Findeisen, known online as Coffeezilla, pressed Schultz on the launch’s mechanics and accused the team of fraud, while Schultz vigorously defended the project, according to Bitcoin.com News.
Within weeks, Welch’s business partner overHere publicly distanced itself from Schultz. According to Blockworks, the overHere X account stated that Schultz had full control of the token and “vanished when things got hard.” OverHere also told Bloomberg that Schultz “controlled all token decisions, fees, treasury.”
The Lawsuit and Schultz’s Response
The class action complaint named Tuah The Moon Foundation, overHere Ltd, Clinton So, and Schultz as defendants. Welch herself was not named, though the suit alleged the team “leveraged Welch’s celebrity status and connections to enhance the Token’s credibility and appeal,” according to Protos.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and over $150,000 in damages. According to a litigation update from Burwick Law on X, Schultz has filed an answer to the complaint, and the court set August 8, 2025, for the parties’ next status report.
By early 2025, Welch confirmed via Invezz that both the FBI and the SEC had cleared her of any wrongdoing, though the broader case against Schultz and other defendants has continued in court.
Reputation and Broader Impact
Schultz’s case has become a touchstone in debates about influencer-led crypto launches. Critics argue HAWK demonstrated how celebrity proximity can drive speculative buying among inexperienced investors, while supporters argue HAWK behaved like many launches that simply failed to sustain demand. For Schultz personally, the controversy has overshadowed his earlier music career.
FAQs
What is Doc Hollywood’s real name?
Doc Hollywood is the online alias of Alexander Larson Schultz, a Los Angeles-based DJ, music producer, and songwriter who also goes by Alex Larson and Lex Larson on social media, according to Bitcoin.com News.
How is Doc Hollywood related to Howie Mandel?
Schultz is the son-in-law of comedian Howie Mandel, having married Mandel’s daughter, Jackelyn, in July 2013, with the couple now sharing two children together, according to Bitcoin.com News.
What was Schultz’s role in the HAWK token launch?
According to overHere’s public statement reported across multiple outlets, Schultz “controlled all token decisions, fees, treasury,” and acted as Hailey Welch’s crypto mentor, pushing the project forward into launch.
Did Hailey Welch get sued over HAWK?
No. Welch was not named as a defendant in the New York complaint, though the suit referenced her celebrity status as central to the token’s aggressive marketing campaign and credibility, according to Protos.
How much did the HAWK token lose at launch?
The token briefly reached a market capitalization of nearly $500 million before crashing more than 90% within hours of its December 4, 2024, launch on the Solana blockchain, according to Brave New Coin.
What is the current status of the HAWK lawsuit?
Schultz has filed an answer to the complaint, and Burwick Law confirmed on X that the court set August 8, 2025, as the date for the parties’ next status report.
Has Schultz spoken publicly since the lawsuit was filed?
Schultz defended the launch on a December 5, 2024, X Spaces event with Coffeezilla, but has been largely silent on social media since the federal litigation began, according to Bitcoin.com News.
