‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ Haliey Welch reveals her biggest regret since viral fame

The woman behind possibly the most viral video of 2024 has revealed she wished she leaned into her new-found success sooner.

Haliey Welch rose to fame earlier this year after a “on the street” style interview where she used the term “hawk tuah” to describe a sex act.

Photo bynew york post

“Love you, Pookie,” she shouted before walking off with her pal, Chelsea. For two weeks, the duo laid low as the world scoured the internet in a bid to find out more about the 21-year-old from Tennessee.

It wasn’t until she appeared Bri LaPaglia’s podcast Life of Bri to talk about how the infamous moment came to be — before joining Ms LaPaglia’s boyfriend, country singer Zach Bryan, on stage that she broke her silence.

Haliey Welch rose to fame earlier this year after a “on the street” style interview where she used the term “hawk tuah” to describe a sex acPhoto byTim & Dee TV/Youtube

Her popularity soared after that, turning her into the summer girl of America, and she's reaped the rewards, showing up on different podcasts, festivals, online shows, and leveraging her recent achievements to give back by donating funds and supplies to animal shelters.

Now, in the first episode of her Betr podcast, Talk Tuah, Ms Welch revealed that hiding from the world was a decision she now regretted.

She said it was “crazy” that she said two words and now she’d had all these opportunities.

“I wish I had jumped on it sooner though,” she said, discussing her new-found fame.

“I was scared to come out of my house for the first two weeks — me and [Chelsea] both. We locked ourselves in the bedroom.”

“I wish I had jumped on it sooner though,” Welch said, discussing her new-found fame.Photo byInstagram/@hay_welch

Ms. Welch also shared information regarding the well-known "Pookie," a person she has never mentioned or displayed in any of her online posts.

In the first episode, Whitney Cummins, the guest, inquired if Ms. Welch was in a relationship or using dating apps.

“Hell no, I ain’t on the apps. Stay away from me, men scare me. Pookie’s still in the picture, he just took me on a date,” Ms Welch revealed.

Ms. Welch mentioned that she and the 24-year-old construction laborer had been intermittently dating for three years, but they only began to take their relationship more seriously in the last few months.

Ms. Cummins suggested that it might have been wise for them to wait on their first official date, considering Ms. Welch is still adjusting to her recent success.

Ms. Welch has also made an appearance on the premiere episode of the dating reality show "Summer House" starring West Wilson on "West Date Ever."

Welch revealed her new podcast “Talk Tuah.”Photo byInstagram/@hay_welch

Mr West took Ms Welch on a romantic fishing date in Nashville, Tennessee, and he was quick to ask about how she feels about her internet fame.

“Are you OK with the name Hawk Tuah,” he asked her.

She was quick to respond, saying; “We’re trying to step away from it.”

“You want to be Haliey?”

She said yes, she wanted to be Haliey and not “Mrs Hawk”.

Mr West then asked what she planned to do once her viral fame “died down” and she revealed she’s been approached about starting podcasts or even appearing on reality television.

Nonetheless, rumors suggest that the young woman's 15-second burst of fame has already ended after a video went viral featuring her at the Rock The South Festival in Alabama last month.

Ms. Welch was brought out on stage to energize the audience before the act — Warren Zeiders and Jelly Roll — was scheduled to perform.

However, the video captures Ms. Welch exclaiming, "Let's here for Warren Zeiders and Jelly Roll!"

She then squealed but the audience was unimpressed — with no one matching her energy and screaming back. The hosts then thanked Ms Welch for her time and she left the stage.

People were not kind to Ms Welch in the comment section, with one claiming her “15 minutes [of fame] were up”.