Hawk tuah is an internet meme from 2024 where Haliey Welch used the phrase as an onomatopoeia for spitting during a street interview in Nashville. The phrase became one of the year’s biggest viral sensations, spawning millions of views, merchandise lines, a podcast, and ongoing cultural impact across social media platforms.
What Does Hawk Tuah Mean?
Hawk tuah represents the sound of spitting, used in a sexual context during oral intimacy. The phrase combines two elements: “hawk” (a Southern pronunciation of “hock,” meaning to clear your throat) and “tuah” (a phonetic version of “ptooey,” representing the sound of spitting).
On June 11, 2024, YouTubers Tim Dickerson and DeArius Marlow from Tim & Dee TV interviewed Welch in Nashville’s Broadway district. When asked about intimate bedroom techniques, her response became instant internet gold.
The phrase went viral within 24 hours. Marlow uploaded the clip to TikTok the next day, and other accounts immediately began reposting the video after removing the watermark. The creators filed over fifty copyright claims in the following days as the video spread uncontrollably across platforms.
Who Is Haliey Welch?
Haliey Aliene Welch is from Belfast, Tennessee, and worked in a bedspring factory before gaining internet fame. She was 21 years old when the interview happened during CMA Fest in Nashville.
Initially, Welch was mortified by the viral attention, saying she wouldn’t leave her house for the first week except to go to work. However, she eventually embraced the moment, recognizing that if others were making money from her viral fame, she should too.
Her transformation from factory worker to internet personality happened rapidly. Welch quit her bedspring factory job on June 27, 2024, and partnered with a local apparel brand to sell Hawk Tuah merchandise, earning over $65,000 within weeks.
Beyond merchandise, Welch expanded her brand significantly. She made appearances at high-profile events, joined Zach Bryan on stage at his Nashville concert, and threw the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game in August 2024.
The Rise of Talk Tuah Podcast
Welch premiered her podcast Talk Tuah with Jake Paul’s company Betr on September 3, 2024, featuring comedian Whitney Cummings as the first guest. The podcast quickly climbed to the top of streaming charts, featuring celebrity guests and covering various topics from relationships to current events.
The show ran successfully until December 2024, when controversy surrounding a cryptocurrency project led to a hiatus. After cutting ties with Jake Paul’s media company Betr on April 4, 2025, Welch relaunched Talk Tuah with her first episode in over four months, featuring KSI as a guest.
The Cryptocurrency Controversy
December 2024 marked a dark chapter in Welch’s viral fame story. Welch released a cryptocurrency meme coin on Solana called $HAWK token, which reached a market cap of nearly $500 million before plummeting to $25 million.
Investigations found that the vast majority of tokens were held by just a few wallets, with claims that insiders received pre-launch access before dumping tokens for profit. Cryptocurrency investigator Coffeezilla accused Welch and her team of operating a scam, leading to multiple investor complaints filed with the SEC.
In May 2025, Welch revealed that the FBI had knocked on her grandmother’s door and requested to examine her phone. She cooperated fully, sending her phone to the SEC for several days. After the investigation, she was cleared and not named in the resulting lawsuit.
Reflecting on the experience, Welch stated she was committed to assisting the legal team representing affected individuals and helping uncover the truth. She acknowledged the situation made her feel physically ill, knowing fans had trusted her name.
How Hawk Tuah Became a Meme Format
The phrase transcended its original context to become a versatile internet expression. Users adapted it in multiple ways:
- Remix Culture: A viral TikTok used it as the bass drop in a dance track titled “Hawk Tuah Anthem,” hitting over 15 million views. Music producers, athletes, and brands referenced the phrase across their content.
- Fake Rant Format: Beginning in September 2024, a meme format emerged where posts claimed Welch went viral for rants on complex topics like defense policy, machine learning models, or Swedish housing regulations. The joke played on the contrast between her viral fame origin and serious intellectual discourse.
- Broader Usage: People began using “hawk tuah” as an expression of shock, boldness, or attitude in casual conversations. It joined the lexicon of 2024 internet slang alongside other viral phrases.
Cultural Impact and Reception
The phenomenon sparked discussions about viral fame, internet culture, and monetization strategies. Welch made appearances with Shaquille O’Neal during his DJ set in Nashville and was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live in December 2024.
Media coverage ranged from entertainment pieces celebrating her entrepreneurial spirit to critical examinations of how viral fame operates in modern social media landscapes. Some viewed her as capitalizing effectively on an unexpected moment, while others questioned the sustainability of fame built on a single viral clip.
The phrase achieved such widespread recognition that it influenced search trends nationwide. People across demographics recognized the reference, making it one of 2024’s most memorable internet moments.
Life After Viral Fame
As of 2024, Welch lives in Nashville with her paternal grandmother, who raised her. She signed with The Penthouse for management representation and has continued building her media presence despite setbacks.
In 2025, Welch announced an upcoming documentary titled DocTuah about her rise to fame. The project aims to provide an in-depth look at the whirlwind year that followed the viral interview.
Welch expressed hope that her podcast would evolve according to her vision, noting that her perspective had changed significantly: “I see things a lot differently than I used to. My eyes are open a lot wider.”
The Broader Implications
The hawk tuah phenomenon represents modern internet virality at its peak. A single spontaneous moment captured on camera can transform someone’s entire life trajectory within hours. Welch’s journey highlights both the opportunities and pitfalls of sudden fame.
Her experience demonstrates how viral moments create pressure to monetize quickly, sometimes leading to questionable decisions. The cryptocurrency incident serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of rapid brand expansion without proper vetting.
Despite controversies, Welch has shown resilience in navigating her unexpected fame. She’s adapted to public scrutiny, learned from mistakes, and continued building a media career beyond the initial viral moment.
What Makes Phrases Go Viral?
The hawk tuah phenomenon offers insights into viral content mechanics:
- Auditory Punch: The phrase is fun to say aloud with its distinctive sound pattern.
- Emotional Charge: It combined humor, shock value, and boldness in one memorable moment.
- Visual Component: Welch’s facial expressions and Southern accent enhanced the phrase’s impact.
- Shareability: The clip’s short format made it perfect for social media platforms.
- Timing: It hit during peak summer social media usage when users actively seek entertaining content.
These elements combined to create a perfect viral storm that propelled a factory worker into internet stardom within 24 hours.
FAQs
Who is the Hawk Tuah Girl?
Haliey Welch, a 21-year-old from Belfast, Tennessee, became known as the Hawk Tuah Girl after a viral street interview in Nashville during CMA Fest in June 2024.
What was the original Hawk Tuah question?
The interviewer asked: “What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?” to which Welch responded with her now-famous phrase.
Is the Hawk Tuah Girl still making content?
Yes, Welch continues creating content through her relaunched podcast and social media presence, though she took a hiatus following the cryptocurrency controversy in late 2024.
What happened to the Hawk Tuah cryptocurrency?
The $HAWK token crashed from $500 million to $25 million in market value shortly after launch, leading to investor complaints, an FBI investigation, and eventual SEC clearance for Welch personally.
How much money did Haliey Welch make from Hawk Tuah?
Welch earned over $65,000 from initial merchandise sales within weeks, though exact total earnings from her various ventures remain undisclosed.
The hawk tuah phenomenon represents a defining moment in 2024 internet culture. What started as an unrehearsed response in a street interview became a multi-million dollar brand, spawning merchandise, a successful podcast, and countless memes.
Haliey Welch’s journey from bedspring factory worker to internet personality demonstrates the unpredictable nature of viral fame. Her experience navigating sudden success, handling controversies, and building a sustainable media presence offers lessons about modern celebrity in the digital age.
The phrase itself has entered the cultural lexicon, recognized across demographics and age groups. Whether viewed as a frivolous meme or a shrewd business opportunity, Hawk Tuah undeniably left its mark on 2024’s internet landscape.
As Welch continues her career beyond the viral moment, her story serves as both an inspiration and a warning about the double-edged sword of instant internet fame.
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