The “Hawk Tuah” Phenomenon: How a Spit Noise Turned Into a Cash Cow!

Amaan
3 min readJun 29, 2024

When I first heard someone say, “Hawk Tuah,” I was like, “Is that gibberish? Or did someone just sneeze on me?”

Little did I know, “hawk tuah” wasn’t just a quirky sound — it was the oh-so-sweet sound of Cha-ching, the jackpot, the moolah!

In today’s wild world of social media, one bizarre viral moment can launch ordinary folks into the stratosphere of fame, fortune, and enough merch to build a fortress out of nothing. Think last year’s Zoolander meme, Bernie’s glorious “I am once again asking” run, and brace yourselves… this book (which is on a huge 4th of July sale right now!!!).

And now, enter the “hawk tuah” phenomenon (definitely not bird-related), born from a TikTok video that took a quirky twist and spiraled into the summer’s hottest meme.

The Spark

Meet Hailey Welch, the internet’s new spitfire sensation thanks to a TikTok clip where she answered a spicy question with an epic spit noise — yep, “hawk tuah.” Captured by TikToker @DMarloww during street interviews, Hailey’s spit-tacular moment racked up over a million views and 130,000 likes. But wait, there’s more! The “hawk tuah” phrase didn’t stop there.

Merch Madness

Seizing the moment like a boss, Hailey and her manager Jason Poteete turned viral fame into a money-making machine. They’ve sold over 2,000 “hawk tuah” hats, raking in at least $65,000. These hats were hotter than fresh pancakes, with signed ones fetching even fancier prices. And guess what? They’re also trademarking “hawk tuah” faster than you can say “instant cash flow, baby”

And there you have it… entrepreneurship!

Celebrity Shoutouts and Media Frenzy

The “hawk tuah” wave didn’t just splash with the general public — it caught the eye of celebs too. Joe Rogan gave it a shout-out on his podcast, netting over 2 million YouTube views. The Daily Show even mashed up Hailey’s spit take with Donald Trump clips, creating a sidesplitting debate. Sports commentators got in on the action too, making the meme fly during an Atlanta Braves game.

Major brands have also jumped on the “hawk tuah” bandwagon. In-N-Out, LIV Golf, and WWE (of course) all incorporated the meme into their social media campaigns, increasing and using its widespread appeal.

The Journey Continues

From TikTok gem to internet gold, “hawk tuah” has been featured in 60,000+ videos, spawning remixes, reaction vids, and comedy sketches galore. And it will probably go on throughout the summer — maybe even longer!

Isn’t it wild? The “hawk tuah” phenomenon is proof that social media has the power to turn a fleeting moment into a cultural and financial jackpot. Hailey Welch’s journey from spit noise to social media sensation is a classic case of seizing the moment and rewriting the rules of personal branding.

Can Anyone Do It?

But all this invites an exciting question: Can you do it too? In the unpredictable realm of social media, originality is your secret weapon. Hailey’s viral moment shows that with a bold reaction and a bit of humor, you can capture the world’s attention. Whether it’s a funny phrase, a quirky dance move, or an out-of-the-box idea, there’s always potential for the next big thing. Just keep it real, folks!

So, let’s ride this wave of viral craziness and turn this story into the next big sensation. We’re aiming for half a million views by tomorrow (Thaaaaankkkssss!). Ready, set, “hawk tuah!”

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Amaan

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