Expert issues warning after ‘Hawk Tuah girl’ goes viral with explicit clip
Topics: Social Media, Advice, TikTok, Celebrity, US News
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@iamdlaney
Topics: Social Media, Advice, TikTok, Celebrity, US News
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past week or so - you'll know all about the absolute frenzy surrounding the viral 'Hawk Tuah' girl.
However, in case you've somehow managed to avoid the avalanche of memes, the phenomenon taking the internet by storm is centred around one Nashville lass' response to being asked 'what makes a man go crazy [in bed] every time'.
The 21-year-old woman, who has since been identified as Haliey Welch, then issued the street interviewers, content creators Tim & Dee TV - with an answer absolutely no one was expecting.
Advert
"You gotta give ’em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang, you get me?" Haliey, from Tennessee, blurted out before erupting into a laughing fit.
In just a matter of hour after the clip was posted, the video accumulated millions of views, with many hailing Hailey as the new 'Queen of the Internet'.
She has since appeared on podcasts, reportedly quit her job and set up her own merchandise brand, capitalising off her now-iconic slogan which is sure to go down in internet history along with Vine and the 'Damn Daniel' guy.
However, amidst Haliey's new-found fame, one expert has issued a serious warning over what others should be 'cautious' of.
Speaking to MailOnline, PR expert Andy Barr, chief executive of the agency 10 Yetis, explained that the whole 'Hawk Tuah' girl schtick is a prime example of how 'we all live in a content creator world and this is something everyone now needs to remember and be cautious of'.
"Social media-based 'journalism' is creating new internet celebrities every single day and it reinforces the importance of people thinking a little more before they speak," he continued.
"You now need to channel your inner PR person and think about if what you are saying is something that you want following you around for the majority, if not all, of your life."
While admitting that Haliey was 'amazingly funny' and now has 'Hollywood talent agencies and merchandising brands queuing up to get her signed because of that one single phrase', there may be some downsides to become a viral sensation.
He continued: "In her recent interviews she rather naively says that she doesn't want to be known for life as the 'Hawk Tuah Girl', but that has now stuck and she will struggle to shake the nickname.
"Individuals now need to think like a Hollywood A-lister or big brand in their every interaction with a camera-wielding content creator.
"If they don't, they do risk being known globally for something they may regret and facing the kind of sinister scrutiny and intrusion into their life that they may not be ready for."
Food for thought, that.