Shaquille O’Neal knows a thing or two about going viral.
And while visiting Nashville for a DJ set over the weekend, the Hall of Fame center managed to do just that.
Taking to X from his DJ Diesel account, O’Neal shared a picture of himself and Hailey Welch — better known as “Hawk Tuah Girl.” Welch has become a viral sensation in recent weeks after appearing in a YouTube video in which she referred to spitting as “giving him that hawk tuah” while answering a question that was sexual in nature.
“Guess who I found in Nashville…” O’Neal captioned a picture of him staring at Welch, before later posting a picture of himself with Welch and her friend who also appeared in the viral video.
— DJ Diesel (@djdiesel) July 1, 2024
While many figured that Welch would have her 15 minutes of fame and move on, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Not only did she appear alongside the likes of O’Neal and country singer Zach Bryan over the weekend, but she also recently signed with Hollywood talent agency UTA.
Based on her recent appearance on Barstool Sports’ Plan Bri Uncut podcast, it sure sounds like the 21-year-old Welch will soon be hosting a show of her own. If that’s the case, then she already has quite the potential guest list lined up, including a certain 4-time NBA champion she just met.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.