Virality is the symbol of internet popularity and impact. It is symbolic of having “made it" — of having produced something that is well-known enough to draw in millions of viewers, no matter how brief and transitory the attention may be. But becoming viral also means sacrificing personal privacy and opening yourself to a wide range of viewpoints. Hailey Welch, the ‘hawk tuah girl’, has opened up about how her unexpected online stardom has resulted in some weird requests.
Internet personality and Grammy award-winning musician Zach Bryan’s girlfriend, Brianna LaPaglia, conducted Welch’s first interview for the Plan Bri podcast. LaPaglia posted a 13-minute conversation with Welch on YouTube that appeared to have been captured backstage during Zach Bryan’s show in Nashville over the weekend, during which Welch made an appearance on stage.
Welch discussed the pros, cons and strange aspects of becoming well-known in her interview. She has since resigned her job, found a manager, is preparing to move to New York or Los Angeles, but is also dealing with the strangest of requests.
“The guy that sells my hats, he got offered $600 (over Rs 50,000), like three days ago, for me to spit in a jar and sell it — that is revolting!" Welch snapped at one point. “I was like, ‘Should I do it?’ And I was like, ‘Nah, don’t do that.’"
Welch talked about recording the now-famous on-the-street interview in which she was asked to describe a bedroom move that makes a man go crazy. She answered with the catchphrase, “You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang!"
Welch claimed that earlier in the evening, while she was enjoying herself in Nashville during CMA Fest, a man approached her and held a microphone. She volunteered without hesitation, saying to LaPaglia, “I could talk to a brick wall if you really let me."
Welch continued, saying that until the video became viral just some weeks after it was uploaded, she didn’t think she would ever come across or hear about it again. She realised it had blown up after viewing it on the mobile at 2 am.
What comes next, Welch is determined to make sure she is recognised for more than simply being the ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’, and she has already put together a small team for herself.
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