What do you think about Mashable? Take a quick survey to let us know!

Who is the 'Hawk Tuah' girl, and what does it mean?

Spit on that thang, etc.
By Tim Marcin  on 
hawk tuah girl giving an interview on the street
The moment a star was born. Credit: Screenshot : Youtube / Tim & Dee TV

Hawk Tuah Girl is the internet's latest viral star, and her origin story is all too common in the digital age. It started with one of those man-on-the-street interviews designed to go viral. The questions were sexual in nature, and that, combined with the setting (a.k.a. the party scene in Nashville), was a recipe for success.

In case you haven't been on TikTok lately and missed it, Hawk Tuah Girl first surfaced in a Tim & Dee TV video. She's asked, "What's one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?"

In a Southern accent, she answers, with enthusiasm and in a ridiculous way: "Aw, you gotta give 'em that 'hawk TUAH' and spit on that thang! You get me?" She says this while miming, well, spitting on that...thang...in the form of a microphone angled toward her.

This clip, in turn, went viral on TikTok with videos featuring the moment, reacting to it, or updating folks on it, gaining millions and millions of views. It's since been revealed that Hawk Tuah Girl is named Hailey Welch. As the internet is wont to do, people began digging and starting random rumors.

Mashable Top Stories
Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.
Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

Chief among them? That Welch was a teacher and fired for the viral clip. That started when a parody account fooled people online.

But while Welch initially seemed a bit hesitant to cash in on the viral moment, she has begun selling merchandise now, which is a pretty foolproof way to pull in money. She's working with a local Tennessee company called Fathead Threads to sell merchandise capitalizing on all the Hawk Tuah virality. Among the items: a "Hawk Tuah 2024" trucker hat, graphic tees, and New Jersey-Boardwalk-esque shirts making crude Hawk Tuah jokes.

Some reporting has also suggested Welch could soon have representation. Page Six reported that industry buzz suggests she's in talks with major talent agencies.

Honestly, it's good for Welch. She was funny in the interview and probably never expected to go viral for something some people consider embarrassing. But now she can laugh all the way to the bank.

Mashable Image
Tim Marcin

Tim Marcin is a culture reporter at Mashable, where he writes about food, fitness, weird stuff on the internet, and, well, just about anything else. You can find him posting endlessly about Buffalo wings on Twitter at @timmarcin.


Recommended For You

More in Life
How to watch 'A Quiet Place: Day One': When is the prequel streaming?
Joseph Quinn and Lupita Nyong'o in 'A Quiet Place: Day One'

How to watch France vs. USA in the Paris 2024 basketball online for free
: Mathias Lessort of France celebrates

How to watch the 2024 US Open online for free in the UK
Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot

How to watch France vs. Spain at Paris 2024 online for free
Jean-Philippe Mateta #14 of Team France

Disney+ and Hulu have just gotten pricier. Yes, even with ads.
Disney Plus

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 10
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'


Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 10
a phone displaying Wordle

Webb telescope just snapped image of huge black hole gobbling things
An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope viewing the cosmos from 1 million miles beyond Earth.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 10
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!