Hawk Tuah: what it means, where the viral trend came from, and who Haliey Welch is

“Hawk Tuah” is an onomatopoeic, throat-clearing “spit” sound—hawk tuah—used in memes as a joking reference to spitting (in the original quote, as part of an intimate trick). It shot into pop culture thanks to a short street interview in Nashville in June 2024; the reply from a young woman was recorded by creators Tim & Dee TV, and the clip spread across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram within days. Major outlets and explainers also covered the phenomenon (meaning, pronunciation, why it’s funny). (The Washington Post, Vox, Wikipedia)

Where and how it started: Nashville, June 11, 2024

The original interview was filmed on Broadway in Nashville during a vox pop shoot by Tim Dickerson & DeArius Marlow (Tim & Dee TV). After the question, “What move in bed always gets a guy the most?” the young woman answered with the now-iconic: “You gotta give ’em that hawk tuah…”. The next day, an edited cut hit TikTok, and from there it took off—other accounts began reuploading the clip, and remixes and audio samples followed. (YouTube, Wikipedia)

Who the “Hawk Tuah girl” is: Haliey (sometimes mistakenly “Hailey”) Welch

The memorable line came from Haliey Welch from Tennessee. After the clip went viral, she stopped working at a spring factory, briefly hid from the attention, and later appeared in her first interviews, describing how 18+ million views turned her life upside down. Over time, she began positioning herself as a creator, signed with management, and built her own channels. (People.com, Business Insider)

Why it became a mega-trend

• Instantly understandable sound: it’s a “word-sound” that works without context and carries the punchline in the pronunciation itself. (Vox)
• Easy to remix: a short line + a gesture → endless variations, duets, music remixes. (Vox)
• Mainstream media momentum: once the phenomenon hit the mainstream (analyses and profiles), the virality multiplied. (The Washington Post)

Money, merch, and early appearances (in euros)

According to multiple reports, Welch quickly launched official merch; sales reached roughly $65,000 (≈ €60,000) in the first weeks. Shortly after, she began taking paid appearances—media described early major fees at around $30,000 (≈ €27,000) per event. She also showed up at public events (including a ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game on August 15, 2024). (Forbes, Page Six, X (formerly Twitter))

The “Talk Tuah” podcast and trademark attempts

In fall 2024, she launched the Talk Tuah podcast under the Betr brand (linked to Jake Paul), with the first episode released on September 10, 2024. At the same time, the phrase “Hawk Tuah” triggered a flood of trademark applications—dozens of attempts (many by third parties, not Welch herself), some of which later ended up as “abandoned.” The phenomenon also became a textbook example of how quickly memes turn into “brands.” (prnewswire.com, TheWrap, cllct.com, trademarkia.com)

Controversies: a crypto coin, an investor lawsuit, and a “return”

In late 2024, the meme coin $HAWK drew a wave of criticism and legal disputes after a sharp price drop. Investors sued the token’s creators; Welch herself was not named in the lawsuit, and according to her attorney, the SEC closed its review without a penalty. After a period of stepping back, she returned to the Talk Tuah project in April 2025 and publicly explained her role.

If you’re interested in more details about the $HAWK coin scandal, read our article:
Hawk Tuah crypto scandal: what happened with the $HAWK token, the lawsuits, and the SEC investigation (2024–2025)

Language and culture: why “hawk tuah” sounds exactly like it does

Linguistically, it’s onomatopoeia—“hawk” imitates a coughy “hock-up,” while “tuah” adds rhythm and the punch. Here, the sound itself became the vehicle for the humor and took on a life of its own beyond the original line. That’s also why it shows up in dances, music snippets, sketches, and typical “duets”—without needing further explanation. (Vox)

How to make sense of it (for parents, teachers, and marketers)

• Context is key: the original line is adult in nature; in a school setting, focus more on communication rules than on the word itself.
• Brand safety: if you work with a brand, consider whether this type of humor fits your audience; examples of a meme being adopted “wrong” can backfire fast.
• Rights and monetization: for merch or licensing, check trademarks and any claims from the creators of the original clip (Tim & Dee TV). (The Washington Post, cllct.com)

Watch the videos

The original Tim & Dee TV interview – the short clip that started it all.

Interview on The Bobby Bones Show – Welch on the money and her plans after going viral.

The Tennessean – video interview – one year after the viral moment, what changed.

Talk Tuah – playlist (YouTube) – the first episode with Whitney Cummings.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl4fleEI17jedKXDFRfk0z3KNb6MDpKMG

Summary

“Hawk Tuah” is a textbook example of how a short sound + a spontaneous street moment can turn into a global inside joke, a viral personality’s career, and also legal and reputational landmines—from trademarks to a crypto controversy. For readers looking for “what it is, where it’s from, and why it’s everywhere”: it’s a Nashville street clip from June 2024 that, thanks to its instantly recognizable sound and constant reuploads, became one of the most prominent memes of recent years. (The Washington Post, Vox)

Sources

1. The Washington Post – “‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ found a familiar path to viral fame. What happens now?” – https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2024/07/08/hawk-tuah-girl-viral-fame/
2. Vox – “Hawk Tuah Girl, explained” – https://www.vox.com/internet-culture/357813/hawk-tuah-girl-meme-tiktok-explained
3. PEOPLE – “Haliey Welch Tells All About ‘Nasty’ Question… (Exclusive)” – https://people.com/haliey-welch-hawk-tuah-girl-viral-video-interview-exclusive-8711934
4. Forbes – “Hawk Tuah Meme Explained: … and a reported $65,000 in merch” – https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/06/28/hawk-tuah-meme-explained-how-woman-in-viral-interview-made-a-reported-65000-and-prompted-tiktok-craze/
5. PR Newswire – “Viral Sensation Haliey Welch Launches ‘Talk Tuah’ Podcast with Betr” – https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viral-sensation-haliey-welch-launches-talk-tuah-podcast-with-betr-302237106.html
6. CLLCT (Darren Rovell) – “‘Hawk Tuah’ trend sparks 22 trademark applications” – https://www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/memorabilia/hawk-tuah-trend-sparks-22-trademark-applications
7. Trademarkia – “HAWK TUAH – status” – https://www.trademarkia.com/hawk-tuah-98669451
8. Newsweek – “Investors sue creators of Hawk Tuah meme coin” – https://www.newsweek.com/hailey-welch-hawk-tuah-memecoin-investors-lawsuit-new-york-cryptocurrency-2003346
9. PEOPLE – “Haliey Welch Breaks Her Silence on Cryptocurrency Scandal…” – https://people.com/haliey-welch-breaks-silence-on-cryptocurrency-scandal-exclusive-11738158
10. YouTube (Tim & Dee TV) – “Hawk Tuah Girl Original Video” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7tydu_erZo