The internet thrives on shock value, and content that pushes boundaries often garners attention. Meet Hawk Tuah—a meme so bizarre, it’s practically the internet’s new favorite child. But don’t worry; this seems like it’s not just some passing trend. It’s a full-fledged phenomenon. So what happened? Well, a viral YouTube video, a street interview, and a phrase that sounds like an outburst of spit—literally!
For those still trying to wrap their heads around it, allow us to break it down: in a 2024 street interview, Haliey Welch coined the now-infamous phrase “hawk tuah”. If you’re wondering what it means—well, it’s not the kind of phrase you casually drop at a Sunday brunch. And of course, it caught on like wildfire. Millions of TikTokers, Instagrammers, and memers alike hopped on the “hawk tuah” bandwagon, remixing and recreating the audio to make it their own.
After taking the meme world by storm, Welch launched a podcast aptly named Talk Tuah. As if that weren’t enough, Mark Cuban recently appeared with Welch in what could only be described as a bewildering collaboration. But the partnership was so out of left field, that even the internet had to take a moment to process it.
Mark Cuban: From Billionaire Business Mogul to Hawk Tuah Podcast– What Happened?
Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks owner, and longtime star of Shark Tank, has always been a figure of confidence and savvy decision-making. But recently, the $5.7 billion rich businessman, who made his fortune through shrewd business deals and a sharp instinct for the next big thing, seemed to have taken a gamble on… well, an unexpected collaboration.
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Case in point: his recent appearance on the Talk Tuah podcast with Haliey Welch. Let’s just say the collaboration didn’t exactly earn Cuban the gold star he’s used to, and it has left fans asking, “How the mighty have fallen?”
The backlash was swift; let’s see what fans are saying:
Mark Cuban is down so bad that he went on the Hawk Tuah girls podcast…. 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/ykZgQwjOtX
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) November 25, 2024
Not much to learn. Went all in on woke bs. Easiest way to fall flat on your face.
— M.T. Promises (@MtMtpromises) November 26, 2024
It’s easy. Get woke, go broke.
— Team America (@teamamerica_ut) November 26, 2024
His downfall needs to be studied
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) November 25, 2024
How the mighty have fallen
— Dangerous Thoughts (@dangerousthinkg) November 25, 2024
But this wasn’t the only controversial moment for Cuban recently. In a separate incident, he found himself in hot water for comments he made about Donald Trump.
While on The View, Cuban criticized Trump for not surrounding himself with “strong, intelligent women,” which triggered backlash from Trump supporters and others (see Huff Post). Cuban quickly attempted to clarify his comments, apologizing for the misunderstanding (see X), but the damage was done.
Trump himself didn’t hold back, calling Cuban “a really dumb guy” and saying “nobody respects him anymore”.
Hawk Tuah: The Meme That Left Us Wondering… What Just Happened?
If you’ve been seeing the term ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ pop up in your feeds over the past few weeks and thought to yourself, “No thanks, I’ll pass on this one,” don’t worry—you’re not alone. But curiosity killed the cat (or, in this case, the TikTok apathy), and eventually we caved.
Who is Hawk Tuah Girl, you ask? Well, her real name is Haliey Welch, and she’s the latest star to emerge, thanks to a random street interview. While walking the streets with Tim & Dee TV, Welch was asked the age-old question: “What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?”
Oh no, she went full throttle and dropped a phrase that would soon become legendary:
You gotta give ‘em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang.
Now, you may be wondering: What’s the future of a meme that’s based on spitting? Believe it or not, it seems like Welch has some major plans. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she’s now working with a management team and plotting her next big move. While there was a rumor she’d signed with a talent agency, it turns out that was a little premature.
Regardless, Welch is clearly someone the internet is obsessed with, and you can’t ignore that kind of viral energy. While some individuals have welcomed the meme and Welch’s rise to fame, others have criticized her for capitalizing on her internet popularity.
You thought this was just a passing meme, right? No. This has even turned into a merch empire. That’s right—while the rest of us are sitting at home in our old band tees, people are proudly rocking “Hawk Tuah” trucker hats. And if you think this is some small operation, think again: they’ve sold over 2,000 hats (via Rolling Stone) with each one priced at $32.78 (and some even fetching a signed version for $50). That’s some serious cash.
If there’s anything we know about viral sensations, it’s that they can burn bright and fade just as quickly. But in Welch’s case, she seems to have the right stuff to keep this momentum going. With a manager, a podcast, and a solid social media presence (hello, over 2 million Instagram followers!), she’s positioning herself for whatever comes next!
