Hailey Welch became an internet star after a cheeky street interview with Tim and Dee TV, where one of her quips exploded online , sparking a deluge of memes and GIFs across social media platforms from Instagram to X, previously known as Twitter.
After a worldwide search, Outkick uncovered her identity, revealing her collaboration with Fathead Threads to monetize her viral catchphrase through merchandise. Now 21, Hailey has stepped into the limelight with a management team, ready to capitalize on her newfound popularity and plot her future endeavors, with some bizarre offers coming her way .
Stateside, there's no shortage of intriguing news.
Yet, the original duo who captured the famed Nashville, Tennessee moment with their mic and camera feel somewhat overlooked
As Hailey enjoys her newfound stardom, Tim Dickerson, 25, and DeArius Marlow, 24, expressed to the New York Times their joy for her success but also their desire for some acknowledgment.
Since 2021, the pair have been producing content and sharing videos on their Tim and Dee TV channels.
"At the end of the day, nobody would know who she was if we didn't bring it to light and post it," DeArius stated. "A lot of the audience who hadn't seen us before think we grew off this one clip. People were treating it like we're nobodies and didn't already have a platform."
The video featuring Hailey that's been causing a stir was from her chat with the content creating pair, where she was asked: "What's one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time? That you do."
Before the question was even fully posed, Hailey quickly responded in her distinctive southern drawl: "Oh, you've got to give him that hawk tuah and spit on that thang, you get me? ".
The interview, shared on Tim and Dee TV's Instagram, exploded online, racking up nine million views within just a week. And that was merely the start.
As the notorious snippet spread like wildfire on TikTok, it appears other users began reposting it sans the "Tim and Dee" watermark or any attribution.
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The duo, who likely rake in revenue per view of their highly popular videos, are said to have lodged at least 50 copyright infringement claims following the original post.
Tim and DeArius expressed their dismay when big media companies contacted them, not for an interview, but to snag Hailey's contact information.
They've had viral moments before, but they told the NY Times that the "Hawk Tuah" incident was unprecedented. DeArius revealed that when he tried to reach out to Hailey for another collaboration, he ended up dealing with her lawyer instead.
In the meantime, Hailey has moved to trademark "Hawk Tuah" for use on clothing and in comedy, and it seems she's getting a boost from none other than Shaquille O'Neal, who's lending a hand as her star rises.
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