After the “hawk tuah” clip went viral, I literally forgot about it. And then two days later, a few of my friends sent me the link and I thought: Oh no.
But it didn’t go crazy until later that afternoon when it was suddenly everywhere. I was so embarrassed. In fact, I was so embarrassed that I didn’t go anywhere besides to work and back.
I even reached out to those guys who filmed me and said: OK, you posted that one clip, can you please stop posting the others?
Well, let’s just say they didn’t listen to me. My granny didn’t understand it until like the third time she watched, then she just laughed and walked out of the room.
I hid in my room. And my whole town of Belfast, Tennessee was protecting me by saying they didn’t know where I lived or anything.
You see, I wasn’t on social media for six months before that night because it made me antsy.
Hailey Welch is known as the “hawk tuah girl” after a video clip of her went viral. In this My Turn essay, Hailey describes the impact the experience has had on her life and how she is using her new-found fame.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/16 Minutes, LLC
But then I saw all these people making fake accounts, impersonating me, even talking to celebrities and news outlets like it was me, so I couldn’t hide anymore.
It’s been a real mind blender with all these new things, people, places in my daily life. It’s a lot but I’m doing the best I can.
What has surprised me most is how many people have made memes, from all over the world! I realized I made people laugh, and their memes made me laugh for days. There are some funny-ass people out there.
I can deal with the haters to an extent and then I just decide to tune it out. And the laughter drowns out the hate. People saying I helped bring the country together, now that’s a little rich—but laughter is powerful.
All the opportunities created by the viral clip are new for me and I’m learning along the way, so I hope people give me a little patience and forgiveness because I’m gonna slip up.
But I’m especially pleased that I now get to financially help out those who have supported me throughout my life and, of course, my passion for animals and my new charity, Paws Across America.
I really don’t want to single out the best person that I’ve had a chance to meet so far, because they’ve been so welcoming and are mini mentors. I’ve learned from all of ’em.
Zach Bryan and his team were so cool. I loved Brianna LaPaglia, she made me comfortable. Shaq gave me the best advice on mental health stuff. Whitney Cummings has taken me in and is helping me so much.
Even Bill Maher was helping me understand what’s happening in this moment while he was giving lessons on history that made my head hurt. I think he’s proud I took his advice to start the podcast. And my Jewish uncle Howie Mandel, he’s a hoot!
The best advice I have for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to me is to protect yourself, keep your friends close, get some people you trust on your team that are smart, and have the most fun you can.
No one can prepare you for it so buckle up. And don’t take a knife to the airport, they don’t let you fly with them.
We have the podcast now, “Talk Tuah”, and that’s going to be fun and something I’m very proud of. There will be more announcements soon when we’re ready to discuss them, but in the meantime, help us with the doggies at Paws Across America.
I’ve made money. Let’s just say I don’t have to eat at Taco Bell anymore. But I still do. I’m taking it day by day and I’m having a great time. But being away from my home for long periods of time sucks. Granny misses me.
I just plan to use this experience for doing good and making Belfast, Tennessee proud.
Hailey Welch is the viral “Hawk Tuah Girl”. She founded the animal charity Paws Across America and hosts the podcast “Talk Tuah”.
All views expressed are the author’s own.
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