NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal mentors ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl Hailey Welch on handling fame – Times of India

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and social media sensation Hailey Welch, also known as ‘Hawk Tuah,’ created a buzz online after being spotted together last weekend at an event. According to TMZ, O’Neal candidly advised Welch on managing fame, with the duo reportedly talking for about an hour. The NBA legend acted as both a friend and mentor, offering Welch guidance amidst her sudden rise to prominence.

O’Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel in his music career, shared photos of himself with the 22-year-old Welch on his X (formerly Twitter) account while they were in Nashville, Tennessee. The images quickly went viral, capturing attention not just for their unexpected meeting but also for the advice O’Neal provided.

Sources told TMZ Sports that the four-time NBA champion advised Welch to surround herself with a “smart team” to help navigate her newfound fame and to protect herself from potential exploitation. He also encouraged her to ignore hateful comments, stating that none of the critics actually know her.

A spokesperson for Welch told Page Six, “He was extremely gracious, personable, and caring, realizing Hailey was dealing with a lot of unnecessary hate,” adding that “She didn’t ask to be famous. Shaq is definitely part of the ‘Protecting the Hawk from the Vultures’ squad.”

Welch recently addressed her viral fame during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ podcast ‘Plan Bri Uncut’ with Briana LaPaglia, where she clarified several misconceptions. Welch refuted rumors that she was a teacher who had been fired due to her viral remarks.

She also addressed her followers through a video on her social media, making it clear that she has no intention of starting an OnlyFans account, despite persistent inquiries. “Stop asking me about the link in bio for my OnlyFans,” she stated on Instagram. “I don’t have an OnlyFans and there’ll never be an OnlyFans. I just make funny jokes, that’s all I do.”