When you think about the viral sensation that is Hailey Welch, aka the Hawk Tuah Girl, it’s easy to forget that before she took the internet by storm with her iconic line “You gotta give him that Hawk Tuah and spit on that thang!”, she was just a small-town girl out for a night of fun with her best friend, Chelsea Bradford. Yes, behind every viral queen, there’s an unsung hero—her loyal bestie. So, what’s it like being BFFs with a meme machine who went from factory worker to internet royalty practically overnight?
Well, buckle up (I know, I know, no “buckle up,” but bear with me) because Chelsea Bradford has finally broken her silence and shared the tea on what it’s really like being best friends with a viral star. And let’s just say it’s everything you’d expect—and more.
The Moment That Changed Everything: “We Were Just Out Having Fun!”
Chelsea was right there with Hailey on that fateful night in Nashville, standing beside her when Hailey delivered the infamous Hawk Tuah line that the internet still hasn’t figured out. “We were just out having fun, you know?” Chelsea explains, as if the entire internet fame thing is just a minor footnote in their weekend plans.
“Honestly, I didn’t even think twice about it when she said it,” Chelsea laughs. “She says wild stuff all the time, so I thought, ‘There’s Hailey being Hailey.’ I had no clue it would blow up the way it did.”
That’s right—Chelsea was there for the whole thing, probably sipping her drink and nodding along as Hailey gave us one of the greatest mystery catchphrases of our generation. Little did she know, the world would soon be obsessed with what “Hawk Tuah” even means (spoiler: it still doesn’t mean anything, and that’s the fun part).
Life After the Meme: “It’s Still Hailey, Just with More T-Shirts”
After Hailey’s phrase became an internet phenomenon, things changed—sort of. “She’s still the same Hailey,” Chelsea insists. “The only real difference is now there’s boxes of ‘Spit on That Thang’ hoodies all over her house.”
Apparently, when you’re best friends with a viral star, you also get a front-row seat to the merch madness. Hailey’s merch empire has exploded, with fans buying up everything from T-shirts and mugs to fanny packs (yes, really) with her famous line plastered on them. But Chelsea? She’s not fazed by it.
“She gave me one of the first hoodies for free,” Chelsea says with a grin. “I told her I’d better get a lifetime supply of Hawk Tuah gear, since I’ve been around since before all this craziness started.” And honestly, if you’re best friends with the Hawk Tuah Girl and not getting free merch, are you even doing it right?
The Weirdest Part: Strangers Asking for Selfies
One thing Chelsea didn’t expect from Hailey’s viral fame? Strangers coming up to them and asking for selfies—constantly. “I’m used to it now, but the first time someone asked us to take a selfie together, I was like, ‘Wait, what’s happening?’” Chelsea recalls. “People recognize her everywhere we go. We’ll be out getting groceries, and someone will shout, ‘Hawk Tuah!’ from across the store.”
According to Chelsea, the weirdest part isn’t the recognition itself—it’s the fact that people want to recreate the viral moment. “They’ll ask her to say the line again,” Chelsea says, shaking her head. “It’s hilarious to watch because Hailey just rolls with it. She’s like, ‘Okay, sure!’ and gives them the full Hawk Tuah treatment. You’d think she’d be sick of saying it by now, but nope.”
This kind of viral celebrity status—where people treat you like a walking meme—is something few people are prepared for. Dr. Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania, says it’s all about how viral stars like Hailey become symbols of a shared internet culture. “When people recognize a viral figure, they’re not just seeing a person—they’re seeing a moment in internet history,” Berger explains. “That’s why fans want to relive it, even if it’s months after the fact.”
Handling the Fame: “We Still Do the Same Stuff—Just with More People Watching”
Despite the fame, Chelsea insists that their friendship hasn’t really changed. “We still hang out and do the same stuff we’ve always done,” Chelsea says. “The only difference is now people are watching, whether we want them to or not.”
Chelsea describes how their once-normal outings are now mini media events. “We’ll be at a restaurant, and people are low-key filming us from their tables. It’s kind of wild,” she admits. “But Hailey’s so laid-back about it. She’s not letting any of this get to her head, which is exactly why I think people love her so much.”
This level-headedness is what makes Hailey such a compelling viral star. She’s not trying to be something she’s not; she’s just a regular girl who happens to have the world’s most confusing catchphrase. And, as Chelsea puts it, “She’s not going to change just because people are watching. If anything, she’s more herself than ever.”
The Real Hailey: “She’s Always Been the Life of the Party”
When asked what people might not know about Hailey, Chelsea doesn’t hesitate. “She’s always been the life of the party,” she says. “What you see online is exactly how she is in real life. She’s always cracking jokes, saying the most random things, and just making people laugh. That’s why it’s so funny to me that she went viral for something like this—because she’s been saying stuff like ‘Hawk Tuah’ her whole life!”
It’s clear that Hailey’s viral fame isn’t a fluke—it’s the culmination of years of being unapologetically herself. Chelsea explains that Hailey’s ability to connect with people is one of the reasons her viral moment took off. “She just has this energy that makes people feel like they’ve known her forever. That’s why so many people are rooting for her—it’s like watching your best friend make it big.”
The Future of Hawk Tuah: “I Think She’s Just Getting Started”
So what’s next for Hailey? According to Chelsea, the sky’s the limit. “She’s got so many opportunities coming her way,” Chelsea reveals. “People keep reaching out to her for collabs, and there’s even talk of a reality show. I think she’s just getting started.”
And Chelsea? She’s along for the ride. “I’ll be there, of course,” she says with a smile. “Someone’s gotta keep her grounded. Plus, I’m not about to miss out on all the free merch!”
It seems like life as Hawk Tuah’s best friend has its perks—and if Chelsea’s got anything to say about it, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future, too.
Final Thoughts: Behind Every Viral Star Is a Loyal Bestie
At the end of the day, Hailey Welch might be the face of Hawk Tuah, but Chelsea Bradford is the one who’s been by her side through it all—before, during, and after the viral chaos. It’s clear that their friendship isn’t going anywhere, no matter how many memes, merch drops, or reality TV offers come Hailey’s way.
“We’ve been best friends forever, and none of that’s gonna change,” Chelsea says confidently. “Hawk Tuah or no Hawk Tuah, she’s still Hailey to me.”
And that’s the real lesson here: even in the world of viral fame and internet stardom, some things stay the same. For Hailey and Chelsea, that’s their friendship—and maybe a few free T-shirts on the side.
