What is the ‘Hawk Tuah’ meme?

The whole shebang started with a video from Tim & Dee TV, a duo of YouTubers who enjoy making strangers on the street squirm with NSFW questions. Little did they know that a Southern belle’s answer to a slightly naughty question would set the internet on fire. When asked about a move in bed that drives men wild, this woman confidently responded with “Oh, you gotta give him that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thing, you get me?” 

The video blew up and racked up millions of views on Instagram and TikTok in no time. Of course, the internet being the internet, people quickly ran with it. Suddenly, “Hawk Tuah” girl was popping up everywhere with her template being used in different scenarios.

Who is the Hawk Tuah girl?

Following the surge of memes, people weren’t going to rest until they uncovered her identity. The first clue came from Tim & Dee themselves, who dropped the name “Hailey Welch” in the comments of their original Instagram and TikTok posts. They also mentioned her friend’s name, Chelsea Bradford, who was the other woman in the video. Further evidence linking her to the “Hawk Tuah Girl” persona includes a VSCO featuring her with a friend from the video and appearances in promotional material for Tennessee-based apparel company Fathead Threads.

Here, she’s seen embracing her viral fame by g hats with the phrase “Hawk Tuah ’24 Spit On That Thang.”

Despite becoming an overnight internet sensation, she is laying low for now. “Hawk Tuah Girl” is not exactly the most flattering nickname, if you know what I mean. Either way, she’s a meme legend now, and that’s pretty dang cool if you ask me.

In a world where news often depresses and politics divides, perhaps there’s something pure and good about a meme that asks nothing of us but a momentary giggle. Sure, it’s not high art. It might not even be low art. But it’s something that brings a smirk to our faces, and maybe that’s enough.