Hawk tuah (/ˌhɔːk ˈtuːə/ ⓘ HAWK TOO-ə)[a] is an internet meme originating from a viral YouTube video posted in 2024. During a street interview, Haliey Welch used the catchphrase hawk tuah, an onomatopoeia for spitting or expectoration on a penis during oral sex, specifically, fellatio.
| Origin/etymology | June 2024 vox pop YouTube interview with a young American woman in the Broadway district of Nashville, Tennessee; onomatopoeic catchphrase |
|---|---|
| Meaning | The sound of spitting on a penis during fellatio. |
| Context | "You gotta give 'em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang" |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Interview with Haliey Welch, by Tim & Dee TV, published June 24, 2024. |
History
On June 11, 2024, a vox pop YouTube channel, Tim & Dee TV owned by Tim Dickerson and DeArius Marlow, released a video featuring an interview with Haliey Welch in the Broadway district of Nashville, Tennessee, United States.[2] Welch and another woman approached Dickerson and Marlow and asked to be interviewed.[2][3] The interview began with what Dickerson and Marlow considered tamer questions, such as, "What makes you wifey material?"[2][3] Eventually, Dickerson and Marlow stated, Welch encouraged Marlow to "spice up the questions".[2][3] Marlow responded by asking, "What's one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?" Welch's reply, in a strong Southern accent was, "You gotta give 'em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang", referring to spitting on someone's penis before or during fellatio, ostensibly for lubricatory purposes.[clarification needed][4][5][6]
Popularity
The next day, Marlow uploaded the clip to TikTok and almost immediately other accounts across social media began reposting the video after scrubbing off the "Tim and Dee TV" watermark.[2] Dickerson and Marlow estimated that they filed at least fifty copyright claims in the days after they first published the clip.[2] The original video had gone viral, receiving millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, spawning remixes and remakes of the original audio, and gaining Welch the nickname Hawk Tuah Girl.[7] The video and the phrase turned into a meme.[8] Welch, who had been a minimum-wage worker at a factory, subsequently created an Instagram account and gained a sizable social media followership and media attention.[9] She also founded a company under which she registered various trademarks, gained representation by an agent,[8] and began selling merchandise themed on the phrase and making paid appearances.[9] On August 15, 2024, she threw the ceremonial first pitch of a New York Mets game,[10] and launched a podcast, Talk Tuah, under the Betr media company co-founded by Jake Paul.[11] Dickerson and Marlow indicated they were happy for Welch but were upset for not receiving credit for Welch's fame.[2]
See also
Notes
- ^ While the meme is usually pronounced /ˌhɔːk ˈtuːə/, the actual noise Welch made is better represented as a narrow phonetic transcription by [ˌhɔkʰ ˈtʼɤ̂ː].[1]
References
- ^ Aleksic, Adam (October 3, 2024). This is still funny #linguistics #language #phonology #hawktuah – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bernstein, Joseph (July 3, 2024). "The Guys Behind 'Hawk Tuah Girl' Would Like a Little Credit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Bernstein, Jonathan (July 4, 2024). "The Men Who Filmed 'Hawk Tuah' Think They Should Be Famous, Too". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Winkie, Luke (July 3, 2024). "America's Biggest New Viral Star Has Been Co-opted by the Right. This Is an Absolute Tragedy". Slate Magazine. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Abad-Santos, Alex (June 28, 2024). "Hawk Tuah Girl, explained by straight dudes". Vox. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Chris (July 3, 2024). "The Hawk Tuah Girl: Everything You Need (and Absolutely Don't Need) to Know". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Cosine (June 28, 2024). "Who's the 'hawk tuah' girl Howard Stern calls 'every father's worst nightmare'?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Ellwood, Mark (July 11, 2024). "'Hawk Tuah Girl' found a familiar path to viral fame. What happens now?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Colyar, Brock (July 18, 2024). "Hawk Tuah Takes Long Island". The Cut. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (August 16, 2024). "Hawk Tuah Girl's First Pitch at a Mets Game Got Everyone Unnecessarily Mad". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Gajewski, Ryan (September 3, 2024). "Hawk Tuah Girl Haliey Welch to Launch Podcast 'Talk Tuah' From Jake Paul's Media Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.