Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley — "Going Viral" (feat. Hailey Welch aka "Hawk Tuah")

Podcast: Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley
Host: Savannah Chrisley
Guest: Hailey Welch ("Hawk Tuah")
Release Date: October 21, 2025

Main Theme:

This lively episode dives into the whirlwind viral fame of Hailey Welch, famously known for the “Hawk Tuah” video. Savannah and Hailey candidly explore the unexpected ups and downs of internet virality, internet culture, managing newfound notoriety, handling online criticism, brushes with fame, lessons learned from controversy, and upcoming projects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hailey’s Viral Origin Story

• Hailey’s Hometown and Age
  • From Belfast, Tennessee, 21 years old. [00:36]
• How Fame Happened:
  • Attended CMA Fest, was randomly interviewed on the street, “told them a little joke,” and the video went viral. [01:00]
  • “They were like, we do YouTube videos... I didn’t think they were going to post a video. Well, they posted the video, so it ended up doing really good on their page. You know how, like, the Internet is. People clip it and make their own. Post stayed around for months. It's still out there.” — Hailey [01:24]
• Immediate Reaction:
  • Woke up to a blown up group chat and a million-view video. Initially worried about her grandmother seeing it. [02:03, 02:42]
  • “My granny go hear about this shit, she’s going to want my ass.” — Hailey [02:42]

Adjusting to Overnight Celebrity

• Family’s Reaction:
  • Thought it was funny; typical of Hailey’s humor. [02:53]
• Negative Reactions & Online Criticism:
  • On being accused of being a “bad role model”:
    • “Well, you can like it or you can love it, or you could kiss my ass. I really don’t care.” — Hailey [03:25]
    • “There’s so much on the Internet I see everyday that I don’t like. But that doesn’t mean I have to sit there and be like, ‘I hate this.’” — Hailey [03:32]

Life After Going Viral

• Career Leap:
  • Started making appearances, podcasting, and entered a nonstop schedule. [03:53]
• Podcasting:
  • Gave her more structure after the initial chaos. [04:13]
• Factory Job:
  • Worked the morning shift, shipping mattress springs. Didn’t quit right away; took some time to process the viral attention. [02:13, 13:22]
  • “It ended up getting to the point—my manager at the time, after I started working with him, he was like, ‘Okay, we’re going to start planning to travel.’” — Hailey [14:20]
  • Boss was supportive and sweet when she quit. [15:26]

The “Coin Fiasco” Controversy & Internet Caution

• Involvement in Cryptocurrency Project:
  • Was pitched as charity-focused; she agreed for the animal shelters angle despite initial skepticism. [05:28]
  • “I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to do that. I’ve never heard anything good about that... And then they brought that up... so I was like, okay, well, you know, that’s really not a bad idea. And I was like, if we’re going to do it for something good, I was like, that’s fine. So, yeah, I ended up giving in and it bit me in the ass.” — Hailey [06:25]
• FBI Involvement:
  • Cooperated fully, handed over her phone for investigation. [04:39]
  • “Feds up here, they come to my house... we literally sent it off in the mail, and it was gone for like four days before I got it back.” — Hailey [05:05]
• Takeaway:
  • Lesson learned: Be careful what you put your name on. [05:23]

Social Media — The Double-Edged Sword

• Online Identity and Misinformation:
  • On AI fakes and voice manipulation:
    • “I've been scrolling on TikTok and I've heard my voice and it's not even you. No, I'm like, I didn't say that. Like, that's not me. And it's all AI, every bit of it. And it looks real too.” — Savannah & Hailey [08:15-08:27]
• Good vs. Evil on the Internet:
  • Big discussion about how online spaces reflect both the best and worst in people and how humanity—not politics—is at the core of current problems. [07:14-07:45]

Celebrity Encounters & Viral Perks

• Notable DMs:
  • Little Baby: “He was like, hey, with a cowboy hat. And I said, oh, shit.” — Hailey [16:38]
  • Also heard from Bhad Bhabie, Woah Vicky, Sexyy Red, Tana Mongeau (Savannah had funny reactions not knowing several names). [16:59-17:44]
• Country Stars:
  • Luke Bryan: Attended his charity event at his house. [20:54]
  • Dierks Bentley: “He was like, you just keep doing your thing, you know? And I was like, you too.” — Hailey [21:18]

Relationship & Personal Insights

• On Dating:
  • Hailey's boyfriend, “my pookie,” is from Centerville, Tennessee, 25 years old. [21:35]
  • Savannah jokes she likes men “about 20 years older.” [22:16]
  • “The fruits have more time to ripen.” — Hailey [22:49]

Handling Money & Online Propositions

• OnlyFans/Inappropriate Requests:
  • Multiple offers to join OnlyFans for large sums—$500,000 sign-on bonus—but declined due to privacy and comfort. [27:07]
  • “I was like, I'm not getting naked, getting paid for it. I'm sorry, but it's just not happening.” — Hailey [26:21]
  • Humorous offers for “fart in a jar.” [26:33]
  • Insights into predatory tactics by corporations:
    • Savannah: “It's so crazy how these big corporations... are predatory in a way, to where it's like, all right, the moment you turn 18, let's capitalize.” [28:12-28:40]

Discourse on Fame & Impact

• Future Concerns:
  • On whether fame may fade:
    • “Not really. I mean, if it does, it does, and if it don’t, it don’t. But, yeah, I'm just happy. I mean, I've done more things this past year than most people ever get to do in a lifetime.” — Hailey [23:38]
• Travel Experiences:
  • Hawaii was her favorite place (“sick the whole time, but beautiful”). [24:00]
  • “It’s unusual going to these different places. Like, when I went to California, it's so different from here.” — Hailey [24:10]
• Podcast Guests:
  • Wiz Khalifa: “He’s got so much wisdom. Like, really, he's such a cool guy. You would never know it about him, but when he gets to talking, you're like... Like, this guy over here, he knows his stuff.” — Hailey [24:39]

Upcoming Projects & What’s Next

• Documentary:
  • Talks ongoing, details under wraps, “it’s supposed to be a surprise.” [08:37]
• TV Cameo:
  • Brief appearance on Chad Powers (Glen Powell’s Hulu show). [08:53]
• Twitch Streaming:
  • Launching Twitch channel at end of the month; may play Grand Theft Auto, Sims, Mario Kart, or just hang out. [31:18-32:14]
  • Admits she doesn’t fully understand how monetization works but is open to trying. [32:14–32:47]

Reflections on Social Media & Parenting

• Regrets & Parenting:
  • Worries about her kids finding the viral video and asking what it means—wants to be an open and supportive parent but recognizes her views may shift. [30:21-31:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hailey, on initial viral panic:
  • “My granny go hear about this shit, she’s going to want my ass.” [02:42]
• Hailey, on criticism:
  • “Well, you can like it or you can love it, or you could kiss my ass. I really don't care.” [03:25]
• On being cautious with fame:
  • “You got to be so careful with what you put your name on.” [05:23]
• Savannah, on internet dangers:
  • “It's good versus evil. That's literally all it is right now.” [07:43]
• Hailey, on celebrity DMs:
  • “I had a heart attack when little baby text me, like, I actually had a stroke.” [16:38]
• On OnlyFans offers:
  • “I'm not getting naked, getting paid for it. I'm sorry, but it's just not happening.” [26:21]
• On giving parenting advice:
  • “That’s a conversation when you get, like, a little bit older.” [30:21]
• Hailey, on fame fading:
  • “If it does, it does, and if it don’t, it don’t...I've done more things this past year than most people ever get to do in a lifetime.” [23:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:36] Hailey’s background and virality origin
• [01:24] The interview gone viral & initial group chat reaction
• [03:25] Handling internet criticism
• [04:39] "Coin fiasco" and FBI involvement
• [05:23] Lessons about endorsing products/brands
• [06:25] Charity angle to coin project and why she agreed
• [08:15] Social media, AI, and voice fakes
• [16:38] Famous DMs and online attention
• [20:54] Country music stars who reached out
• [21:35] Hailey’s boyfriend and dating older men
• [26:21] OnlyFans offers and online propositions
• [31:18] Hailey’s Twitch plans
• [30:21] Thoughts on future regret and parenting

Tone & Style

The episode is Southern, unfiltered, and full of good-natured ribbing. Hailey’s humor is casual, vibrant, and self-deprecating, while Savannah plays a bemused, supportive, older-sister role. Both are open about the challenges of public scrutiny, internet culture, and navigating new opportunities.

Summary Takeaway

Hailey Welch’s viral moment characterizes the unpredictable power of the internet in shaping 21st-century fame. This conversation is a candid, often hilarious, sometimes sobering look at what happens when social media upends an ordinary life—offering both wild opportunities and pitfalls. The episode closes with gratitude, an embrace of the adventure, and a healthy skepticism for all things internet.