While many people dream of achieving viral fame, it’s important to remember that it comes with its fair share of challenges. One person who knows this all too well is Haliey Welch, also known as the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl.
Last month, a video of Haliey answering a question about what drives men crazy in the bedroom went viral. Her unexpected response, “You gotta’ give him that hawk tuah and spit on that thing,” catapulted her to internet stardom. The clip, shared on Tim & Dee TV, has now been viewed over five million times, making Haliey a somewhat national treasure.
However, fame has its downsides too. Haliey recently spoke to Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O about how her newfound popularity has impacted her daily life. She revealed that she can no longer go out in public alone due to concerns about her safety. “I’m paranoid of getting kidnapped or something,” she admitted. “I’m little too, so I can’t really defend myself with big people or nothing like that.”
Haliey also shared an encounter she had with a stranger at Walmart who claimed to know her. These experiences have left her feeling unsettled and cautious. Additionally, she opened up about explaining her viral catchphrase, ‘hawk tuah,’ to her family, particularly her grandma. It took three attempts before her grandma finally grasped its meaning. Awkward, indeed.
On top of that, Haliey’s collaborator, who helps her create hats featuring her infamous phrase, has been receiving some peculiar requests from fans. According to Haliey, he was offered $600 to have her spit in a jar and sell it. She has also been repeatedly asked about starting an OnlyFans page, with some people even requesting pictures of her feet. The bizarre nature of these requests highlights the strange side of internet fame.
While there have certainly been challenges, there have also been positive outcomes from Haliey’s viral success. One major benefit is that she has been able to leave her 9-5 job at the spring factory. In a video shared on her Instagram page, she excitedly announced, “I quit my job at the spring factory, and so I don’t have to eat Taco Bell all the time – but I’m still going to do it anyways.”
Despite the ups and downs, Haliey is navigating her newfound fame with humor and resilience. She is a reminder that fame, although enticing, can come with unexpected consequences.
