“Hawk Tuah” girl Hailey Welch has sparked viral fame and business opportunities following her now-famous phrase.
The Tennessee-based embroidery and apparel brand Fathead Threads, managed by Jason Poteete, is the exclusive vendor of her officially licensed merchandise.
Welch gained internet fame on June 11 during an interview with Tim & Dee TV, where she described a “move in bed [that] makes a man go crazy every time” with the now-immortal line: “You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang.” The clip quickly went viral, referenced by personalities like Joe Rogan, Howard Stern, and Bryce Harper.
Despite the widespread circulation of Hawk Tuah-themed merchandise, only Fathead Threads is officially licensed by Welch. Poteete, a Marshall County native who has known Welch for years, reached out to her after the video went viral to help her monetize her newfound fame. “She hasn’t gotten a dime from the first viral video,” Poteete told Rolling Stone. “I just wanted her to get some profit off of this deal.”
Welch, who did not respond to Rolling Stone’s interview request, is reportedly overwhelmed by the attention. She has requested that Poteete not share personal details or feature her face on the merchandise due to concerns over her privacy. “She’s probably one of the most well-known people in the world at this point, but I don’t know if she’s embraced it,” Poteete said.
Fathead Threads is currently selling “Hawk Tuah ’24” hats in 14 colors for $32.78 each, with signed versions priced at $50 sold out. Poteete estimates the shop has sold over 2,000 hats, grossing at least $65,000. “This is way out of the normal for us,” he noted. “This is a small family-owned shop. We’re all-hands-on-deck right now.”
Despite Welch’s current discomfort with the attention, Poteete remains optimistic. “It could be a blessing or a curse,” he said. “I think she’ll do fine in the end.” Describing Welch’s personality, he added, “She has a bubbly personality. She can be somewhat risqué. You never know what she’s gonna say. I just think the world needed a laugh, and she provided that.”
