Haliey Welch, widely recognized as the Hawk Tuah Girl, quickly rose to internet fame after a viral video—and now she's capitalizing on her time in the limelight. Her podcast, Talk Tuah, has recently become the 3rd most popular podcast on Spotify, ranking just behind The Joe Rogan Experience and The Tucker Carlson Show (two shows known for their strong storytelling).
Welch first garnered attention during a viral street interview for Tim & Dee TV, where she was asked, “What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?” Her answer? “You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang.” The phrase, which sounds like spitting in an old Western saloon, spread rapidly across the internet. People found it amusing, unique, and very Southern—elements that made it the perfect viral sensation.
“Hawk tuah” is Welch’s playful, PG-13 twist on a bedroom tip, but it was her delivery and Southern charm that made it blow up. The phrase turned into a meme overnight, being compared to other viral moments like "Damn, Daniel."
As with most viral trends, monetization followed swiftly. Tim & Dee TV launched a merchandise line with phrases like “If she don’t hawk tuah, I don’t want to talk tuah,” selling hats and T-shirts. Welch also teamed up with Jason Poteete, owner of Fathead Threads, to sell official Hawk Tuah hats. Rolling Stone reported that more than 2,000 hats were sold within the first few weeks, generating at least $65,000 in revenue.
Welch has now transformed her viral fame into a full-fledged career. She has hired a management team and recently launched her own podcast, Talk Tuah, which premiered earlier this month.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ