Hailey Welch, known as the ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ following her viral video, was recently seen partying with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal in Nashville. Welch shot to fame after a spontaneous interview at the CMA Fest in Nashville, where she humorously answered a provocative question, making her a sensation almost overnight.
Welch has since embraced her viral fame, releasing merchandise featuring her catchphrase. Over the weekend, she made headlines again by jumping on stage with country music star Zach Bryan during his tour at Nissan Stadium. The internet star was later seen with O’Neal, who was in town for a DJ performance at Jon Bon Jovi’s new venue. During the event, Welch playfully spit on one of Shaq’s microphones, delighting the crowd with her signature move.
We cute https://t.co/fpvzYp9w7N
— Hawk Tuah (@HawkTuahGirl24) July 1, 2024
In a recent interview with Brianna LaPaglia on the Plan Bri Uncut podcast, Welch addressed various rumors about her background. Contrary to circulating stories, she clarified that she was never a school teacher but worked in a spring factory. She also laughed off the rumor about her being a bartender and dispelled the myth of her father being a preacher. Welch mentioned that her family finds her antics amusing and supportive.
Looking to the future, Welch expressed a desire to move beyond her ‘Hawk Tuah’ image. She aims to leverage her newfound fame for travel, show appearances, and more podcast interviews. Welch assured her fans that there’s more to come and that she doesn’t intend to be solely defined by her viral moment.
