'Hipster Grifter' speaks out — online

The so-called "Hipster Grifter," a wanted Utah woman who has become an Internet celebrity through viral tales of cons, sexual propositions and empty wallets, is speaking out — online, of course.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Kari Ferrell said in a video confessional posted online Friday at animalnewyork.com. "Um, I figured that because things have escalated to such a crazy magnitude, the least I could do would be to address everyone."

In the minute-long video clip, the pixie-ish woman, with her trademark phoenix tattoo emblazoned across her chest, offers an apology for things she has done.

"I made some pretty terrible decisions and just wish that I could take them all back, so I am very sorry," she said. "I am taking care of things."

Salt Lake police said the way Ferrell could take care of things is to return to Utah and face a series of felony theft and forgery charges. Her video posting was viewed with interest by police on Friday.

"Ms. Ferrell is still wanted by the Salt Lake City Police Department and remains one of our most wanted," Sgt. R. Fred Ross said in an e-mail to the Deseret News.

Animal magazine, which posted the video on its Web site, said Ferrell claimed to have never ripped anyone off in New York City. "All the 'bad stuff' was back in Salt Lake City," the magazine said.

Police said Ferrell, 22, has $60,000 in warrants out for her arrest from Taylorsville, Salt Lake City and Layton. Salt Lake police said that if she is arrested, she will be extradited back to Utah to face charges.

In the video, Ferrell moves quickly from her apology to claiming that her former employer still owes her one last paycheck and criticizing the New York Observer, which first reported the tale of Ferrell's alleged cons throughout Brooklyn's hipster scene. Ferrell is accused of faking pregnancies, cancer and music-promoter jobs whilescamming people out of money.

On the Internet, Ferrell became a viral celebrity, with a Facebook fan site, and popular Web sites like Gawker.com even took to the streets to find her and report alleged "Hipster Grifter" sightings.

Salt Lake police gained Internet fame of their own through their efforts to track down Ferrell. She's been on their Most Wanted list since last year, and the police department created a YouTube video about her, in an effort to apprehend her.

In a photo shoot for Animal magazine, Ferrell is shown licking money and hugging a laptop displaying her wanted poster, and she parodies stealing things from an apartment. On her online video, she ends her message with a pop-culture reference to Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol" fame: "Seacrest out."

E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com