‘Hawk Tuah girl’ Haliey Welch has become a viral sensation after being filmed on a Nashville street last month.
Content creators Tim & Dee TV asked the factory worker: ‘What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?’
She answered: ‘You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang’ – and the clip has now been viewed four million times on YouTube in just ten days.
Miss Welch, 21, initially isolated herself in rural Tennessee where she lives with her family, as relatives tried to build a wall around her to shield her from the publicity.
But she has now quit her job at a spring factory, co-launched a merchandise range and employed a manager as she attempts to cash in on her unexpected fame.
And now Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at some of Australia’s very own viral legends and where they are now.
2008 – Party boy Corey Worthington
Corey Worthington (pictured) became a global sensation when he was just 16 for throwing an out-of-control party at his parents’ Narre Warren home
Corey Worthington became a global sensation when he was just 16 for throwing an out-of-control party at his parents’ Narre Warren home while his mum Jo and stepfather Stephen Delaney were holidaying on the Gold Coast in 2008.
His big bash, prompted by an open MySpace invite, quickly got out of control and wreaked havoc across the quiet suburb.
A riot soon broke out as revellers pelted police with broken bottles, damaging cars and surrounding property.
It was only brought under control after more than 30 officers, the dog squad and the police helicopter descended on the party and closed it down.
He then appeared on A Current Affair, where journalist Leila McKinnon scolded the teen for his attitude and lack of remorse.
She told the shirtless teen to ‘take off his glasses and apologise’ to his parents and the Australian public, but Corey refused: ‘I’ll say sorry but I’m not taking off my glasses … cause they’re famous.’
After finding fame in 2008, Worthington starred on Big Brother season eight later that year. Pictured in 2024
After finding fame in 2008, Worthington starred on Big Brother season eight later that year.
In 2018, he returned to reality television on the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior, debuting his muscular physique.
2009 – ‘Chick Chick Boom’ Clare Werbeloff
Nineteen-year-old Clare Werbeloff’s (pictured) ‘eyewitness account’ of a shooting in Sydney’s Kings Cross district in May 2009 made her an overnight celebrity
Nineteen-year-old Clare Werbeloff’s ‘eyewitness account’ of a shooting in Sydney’s Kings Cross district in May 2009 made her an overnight celebrity.
Her breathless TV interview about the incident was considered too good to be true – which turned out to be the case, as she later told police it was all a hoax.
Despite having witnessed nothing, she frantically told Channel Nine reporters at the scene: ‘There were these two wogs fighting!
‘The fatter wog said to the skinnier wog, “Oi bro, you slept with my cousin!” And the other one said: “Nah man, I didn’t for s**t, eh,” and the other one goes, “I will call on my fully sick boys, eh!” and then pulled out a gun and went “chk-chk BOOM!’
While her version of events was made up, she later insisted she didn’t have bad intentions and naively ‘just wanted to be famous’.
The footage eventually went viral, leading to exclusive interviews with TV shows like A Current Affair and even a cover shoot for Ralph magazine.
She later said the ‘worst thing’ about the incident was ‘people accusing [her] of being a racist’ because of her use of the term ‘wog’.
During an interview with the Mumbrellacast podcast in 2019, Clare’s former manager Max Markson revealed: ‘I get calls still, “Will Clare do this? Will Clare do that?” I’ve spoken to her and she doesn’t want to do anything. I think she’s doing… care… or speech therapy.’
‘She’s got a proper job, a proper life,’ he added.
2010 – ‘Barking dog man’ Ray Graham
In 2010 Ray Graham became an international sensation, after a TV interview with A Current Affair about rabid dogs ‘terrorising’ his local area
In 2010 Ray Graham became an international sensation, after a TV interview with A Current Affair about rabid dogs ‘terrorising’ his local area.
His enthusiastic impression of a barking dog has been watched tens of millions of times online and become part of Australia’s digital age folklore.
In 2019 he told Daily Mail Australia he is regularly stopped for a selfie.
‘I get noticed in the street, not as much now, but it still happens,’ he said.
‘Just the other week I was out shopping with Kerry and these two guys started after us and we thought they were going to mug us but all they wanted was just a photo!
In 2022, Graham recreated the iconic moment in an endorsement for a Liberal candidate in Bennelong
‘They always want to take a photo and sometimes I sort of bark at them – they really love that.
‘It’s been all positive, there’s been no downside, but it has definitely changed my life.’
‘We often get stopped in the shopping centres and places like that… some want a photo, some want a video,’ he said.
In 2022, Graham recreated the iconic moment in an endorsement for a Liberal candidate in Bennelong.
2013 – ‘Waiting for a mate’ Clinton
In February of 2013, a video titled ‘I’m just waiting for a mate’ was uploaded to YouTube of footage from Australian reality show Highway Patrol
In February of 2013, a video titled ‘I’m just waiting for a mate’ was uploaded to YouTube of footage from Australian reality show Highway Patrol.
In the now viral moment, Senior Constable Ash Bowden questioned a man named Clinton who was behind the wheel of a wrecked vehicle.
During the exchange, the man claimed he was ‘just waiting for a mate’ when asked why he is sitting in the beat-up car.
The clip and the saying has since been made into a national meme.
Clinton quickly disappeared from the spotlight.
2016 – ‘Underpants hero’ Daniel McConnell
A Queensland local was dubbed an ‘Australian underwear hero’ after he told Nine’s Today Show of how he chased a reckless driver wearing nothing but his jocks
A Queensland local was dubbed an ‘Australian underwear hero’ after he told Nine’s Today Show of how he chased a reckless driver wearing nothing but his jocks.
Daniel McConnell said his wife had told him of a hit-and-run at his mate’s shop and he leapt from bed in his underwear to confront the driver.
Channel Seven also spoke to the unlikely hero, where he said: ‘So I was in me jocks, jumped in me car and started chasing him up the street.’
After his first interview went viral, a local dentist offered to fix his teeth free of charge.
Reflecting on the fame, he told Pedestrian TV in 2020: ‘I love meeting people that I’ve never met before and I love to have a conversation, I love to have a chat.’
‘I made millions of people’s days – that made my day,’ he added.
2016 – Child surfer Sabre Norris
Sabre Norris became a viral sensation after leaving Karl Stefanovic and the Today Show team in stitches during a hilarious interview
Sabre Norris became a viral sensation after leaving Karl Stefanovic and the Today Show team in stitches during a hilarious interview.
Norris, now 19, was selected as a wildcard by surfing champ Sally Fitzgibbons to compete in the The World Surf League Sydney International Women’s Pro Qualifying Series in 2016.
Ahead of the competition the little legend took part in a side-splitting interview in which she called her dad ‘fat’ and said she would spend her winnings on doughnuts, leaving Karl in hysterics.
After her interview went viral, Sabre was gifted free doughnuts for her clear love of the treats.
She has since appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and was slimed at Nickelodeson’s Kids Choice Awards in 2017.
Sabre is now a social media star, posting videos for her four million TikTok and 809k Instagram followers.
Sabre is now a social media star, posting videos for her four million TikTok and 809k Instagram followers
