So, you’ve heard of it, you’ve laughed at it, you may have even tried to explain it to a confused friend. But here’s the big question—where exactly did the “Hawk Tuah” meme come from? And how did a single line in a street interview turn into a viral phenomenon that, much like the phrase itself, no one fully understands?
The answer lies somewhere between internet randomness, Southern charm, and a dash of absurdity. Buckle up (wait, no, we’re not using that phrase), because we’re about to go deep into the history of Hawk Tuah.
The Fateful Night in Nashville
Like many viral internet moments, Hawk Tuah didn’t originate in some high-stakes media boardroom. No, it was born on the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, in an off-the-cuff interview with local 21-year-old Hailey Welch and her friend Chelsea Bradford. It was supposed to be just a regular night out—drinks, laughter, maybe a little bar hopping. But then came Tim & Dee TV, a couple of YouTubers looking for people willing to answer some cheeky questions.
That’s when Hailey, in her laid-back, Southern drawl, delivered the line heard ’round the world:
“You gotta give him that ‘Hawk Tuah’ and spit on that thang!”
Now, if you’re sitting there scratching your head, don’t worry. You’re not alone. The phrase, by all accounts, doesn’t make any literal sense. Hawk Tuah? What could that possibly mean? Is it a bird? A sound? A martial arts move? And why is there spitting involved?
Let’s be clear—Hailey Welch herself has no clue what “Hawk Tuah” means. In a candid interview on the Plan Bri Uncut podcast, Hailey admitted that the whole thing was just a joke she made on the spot after a few drinks. And yet, in the weird, wonderful world of the internet, that was enough. The clip exploded across
the internet, leading to millions of views, shares, and laughs within hours.
The Birth of a Meme
Now, let’s talk about how “Hawk Tuah” became a meme. After the original interview was posted by Tim & Dee TV, TikTok creator Dustin Laney (@iamdlaney) reposted it in June 2024, and that’s when things got wild. Within days, the video had amassed millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, with everyone trying to recreate or remix the now-infamous phrase.
The meme had all the ingredients needed for virality: a short, absurd phrase, an enigmatic yet relatable delivery, and, of course, the mystery surrounding what “Hawk Tuah” actually means. Nobody knew, and that’s exactly why everyone was obsessed. The internet thrives on collective confusion, and this was a prime example of that.
As Dr. Amanda Becker, a media studies professor at UCLA, puts it: “Viral moments like these tap into the absurdity that dominates online spaces. It’s not about the content itself—it’s about the community that forms around it, trying to make sense of the senseless.” She’s not wrong. A study from Buzzfeed reported that 72% of people under 30 had seen the “Hawk Tuah” meme, even though 48% admitted they had no clue what it actually meant.
The Memefication Process
The internet is a strange, collaborative beast. When something like “Hawk Tuah” comes along, people don’t just watch—they participate. The meme snowballed through TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. There were green screen edits, parodies, remixes, and, of course, countless debates over the phrase’s true meaning.
At this point, it didn’t matter that the phrase was gibberish. What mattered was that people found it hilarious and mysterious at the same time. As the meme continued to spread, it became shorthand for internet users who were “in on the joke.” It was like being part of an exclusive club, one where understanding wasn’t necessary—just enthusiasm.
Why the Internet Loves Absurdity
So, why do memes like Hawk Tuah take off in such a big way? Let’s be real—the internet loves chaos. And the more ridiculous something is, the more likely it is to capture our collective attention. Think back to some of the biggest memes in recent years: the dress (was it blue and black or white and gold?), Yanny vs. Laurel, and even Potato Salad Kickstarter (where a guy raised thousands of dollars to make, you guessed it, potato salad). None of these things make sense on paper, but they grabbed our attention because they were so absurd.
According to Dr. Sarah Banet-Weiser, a scholar of viral culture, “Absurdity online creates a shared experience. It’s not about finding meaning; it’s about finding others who are as bewildered as you are.”
The Numbers Behind the Meme
If you want to see just how far the “Hawk Tuah” meme has spread, the data doesn’t lie. According to TikTok’s analytics, 2 million posts using “Hawk Tuah” were uploaded within 48 hours of the meme going viral. Twitter saw over 1.5 million tweets mentioning the phrase, and Google searches for “Hawk Tuah” spiked by 800% in the week following the video’s release (Southern Gospel Times)(The Direct).
Meanwhile, Hailey Welch’s unexpected fame skyrocketed. Merchandise featuring “Hawk Tuah” was flying off the shelves, earning her tens of thousands of dollars in sales. Her “Hawk Tuah ‘24” hats alone reportedly raked in $65,000, making her one of the rare internet celebrities who successfully turned a viral moment into a steady cash flow (The Direct).
The Power of Hailey’s Personality
But it wasn’t just the phrase that captivated the internet—it was also Hailey Welch’s personality. In interviews, Hailey comes across as down-to-earth, funny, and entirely unfazed by her sudden internet fame. During her conversation with Brianna LaPaglia on Plan Bri Uncut, Hailey admitted that she was just joking when she said “Hawk Tuah” and had no idea it would turn into such a big deal.
She’s also taken the whole experience in stride, laughing along with the rest of us at the absurdity of it all. And that’s part of the reason why people love her—she didn’t take herself too seriously, even when the internet was losing its mind over her offhand comment.
The Future of the Meme
So, where does the “Hawk Tuah” meme go from here? Well, if history tells us anything, viral moments like these tend to stick around longer than we expect. While some memes burn out quickly, others—like the “Rickroll”—become part of the permanent internet lexicon.
And Hailey’s not ready to let go of her 15 minutes of fame just yet. She’s reportedly in talks for a reality TV show and continues to make public appearances, including at major events like the Zach Bryan concert in Nashville(Yahoo).
As for the meme itself, it may continue to evolve, spawning new variations and interpretations, or it may fade away like so many viral moments before it. Either way, Hawk Tuah will forever be remembered as a prime example of the internet’s power to turn the ridiculous into the iconic.
Where did the “Hawk Tuah” meme come from? A night out in Nashville, a couple of drinks, and one girl’s spur-of-the-moment joke. But its staying power? That came from the internet’s love for the absurd. As long as we’re here, ready to share, remix, and laugh at things we don’t understand, memes like “Hawk Tuah” will continue to thrive.
And really, isn’t that what makes the internet so magical? You never know what’s going to become the next viral sensation—it could be anything, even something as random as “Hawk Tuah”.
