The viral sensation surrounding Hailey Welch - now infamously known as the 'Hawk Tuah Girl' - has thrust her into the limelight, with the young woman amassing thousands of fans worldwide in a matter of weeks.
However, the duo responsible for interviewing Welch - bringing out that now-iconic response - and sharing her on social media are now speaking out, claiming they've been overlooked for credit.
Tim Dickerson, 25, and DeArius Marlow, 24 - known as Tim & Dee of Tim & Dee TV - are the masterminds behind the viral video that propelled Welch into internet stardom.
Check out their original FULL interview below:
In their signature style, they interview people on the streets, capturing candid and often outrageous responses.
It was during one of these interviews in Nashville's Broadway district that Welch delivered her now-iconic line in response to their question about a move that drives men wild in bed.
Her iconic response, "You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thing, you get me?" became insanely popular on social media platforms, and was widely reshared on sites like TikTok and Instagram.
Despite Welch trademarking the phrase 'Hawk Tuah' for comedic and apparel purposes, with the assistance of basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, Tim & Dee feel they haven't received due recognition for their role in making the phrase a cultural phenomenon.
In an interview with The New York Times, Marlow expressed their frustration: "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.”
Dickerson elaborated on their approach, highlighting their content's spontaneous and humorous nature: "It’s mostly just jokes.
"We’re not pressuring nobody or nothing — we’re just capturing the vibe. That’s what we do best."
The duo, who initially met as roommates in college in Nashville, began their YouTube journey in 2021, uploading a variety of street interviews that range from offbeat questions to adult-themed inquiries.
Despite their content creation being a part-time endeavor — Dickerson is a day trader and football coach, while Marlow works as a videographer. And ever since their footage was widely used, they have been proactive in protecting their intellectual property.
According to their statements to The New York Times, they've filed approximately 50 copyright claims against those who have used their content without permission, often removing their watermark and re-uploading it.
It comes as Welch's fame has continued to skyrocket, with her making concert appearances, being snapped with celebs, and taking part in podcasts.
When asked for her story about the original interview, Welch says she was out at the CMA Fest in Nashville when she was approached by the Youtubers. "Next thing I know, there's a microphone in my face and I was like, 'Ooh! I'm gonna conversate with them,'" she told the Plan Bri Uncut podcast.
"[The interviewer] only told us he was a YouTuber [...] I was like, 'I'm never gonna see this again.' Sure enough, I've seen this again."
As the original video started blowing up, Welch revealed the moment she knew she was going viral on social media.
"That was Sunday, I seen it about the Tuesday after that -- I s**t a brick. I seen it like 2 o'clock in the morning while I was getting up ready for work," she said.
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