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Hailey Welch, AKA “Hawk Tuah Girl,” has taken the online world by storm this summer following a viral street interview in Nashville. The producers of that original content are now seeking their cut.
Tim and Dee TV, which consists of Tim Dickerson and DeArius Marlow, posted that initial segment to their channels shortly after interviewing Welch. They believe they’ve largely been forgotten while “Hawk Tuah Girl” basks in newfound fame and fortune.
The segment exploded into a firestorm of internet reaction upon first release, being transformed into GIFs and memes while having a chokehold on social media.
Since, the star in front of the lens has benefitted from exposure and attention, linking up with celebrities and raking in a reported $30K thanks to a string of New York City media appearances.
That comes on top of whatever merchandise sales and professional opportunities await in her future. She’s already hired a legal team, signed with a management group, and detailed her anticipated career path.
Meanwhile, those responsible for snagging the interview, asking the right question, and posting it for the world to see, have gotten the short end of the stick.
At least in their eyes.
The “Hawk Tuah” interviewers want some credit!
While the clip did bring attention to their social outlets, most notably an Instagram account that now boasts 180K followers, Tim and Dee have yet to touch the viral fame of Hailey Welch.
Here’s what they had to say in a recent interview with the NY Times:
“At the end of the day, nobody would know who she was if we didn’t bring it to light and post it. A lot of the audience who hadn’t seen us before think we grew off this one clip. People were treating it like we’re nobodies and didn’t already have a platform.”
Instead of being contacted for media appearances and professional opportunities, they’ve waged legal battles – lodging copyright infringement claims against those using the video without the Tim and Dee TV watermark.
And those that have reached out are apparently only interested in obtaining “Hawk Tuah Girl’s” contact info, further rubbing salt in the wound!
It will be interesting to see if their pleas for attention are heard. For now, Hailey Welch continues to become an internet sensation while Tim and Dee fight for recognition.