The Hawk Tuah girl has filed to trademark her signature phrase as her online popularity continues to grow.
For those unfamiliar, Haliey Welch became an internet phenomenon following a viral video where she was asked: "What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?"
Her reply: "You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang. You get me?" turned her into a household name almost overnight.
Her meteoric rise began at the CMA Fest in Nashville, where she was approached by Tim & Dee TV for a spontaneous interview.
"Next thing I know, there's a microphone in my face and I was like, 'Ooh! I'm gonna conversate with them,'" Welch recalled while speaking to Brianna LaPaglia on the Plan Bri Uncut podcast.
Since the video swept across social media platforms, Welch has amassed a substantial following. She has made the most of her newfound fame by releasing merchandise featuring her now-iconic catchphrase.
Earlier this week, Welch established her company, 16 Minutes LLC, and applied for exclusive rights to use her signature phrase on various merchandise, including hats and t-shirts.
The 21-year-old's trademark application covers clothing items and entertainment services, particularly comedy shows and podcasts about "comedy and current events," according to documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
As part of her filing, Welch included a photo of a beige and brown hat featuring her phrase "Hawk Tuah '24. Spit On That Thing" written in red.
This hat was created in collaboration with Tennessee-based company Fathead Threads.
While Welch eagerly shares bedroom advice with millions, she has kept her fans guessing about the origin of her company’s name.
16 Minutes LLC, based in Nashville, Tennessee, may cleverly hint at her ambition to extend her viral fame beyond the typical 15 minutes.
The name might also reference her 16-word catchphrase: "You've got to give him that hawk tuah and spit on that thang, you get me?"
According to TMZ, Welch and her management team plan to send cease and desist letters to merchants attempting to profit from the Hawk Tuah phrase on clothing.
This trademark filing and new company came as a surprise, especially after Welch told Lapaglia that she was hesitant to embrace the Hawk Tuah persona permanently.
On July 1, Welch revealed she quit her factory job and hired management following the viral success of her interview and she now has a full management team.
