Things might not have worked out between Summer House stars West Wilson and Ciara Miller — but that’s not stopping Wilson from trying to find love again. In the debut episode of his Complex dating show West Date Ever, the sports journalist wooed Haliey Welch a.k.a. Hawk Tuah Girl on a romantic fishing date in Nashville, TN.
Wearing an all-denim outfit, Wilson got to know the woman who coined the “hawk tuah” term after talking about oral sex in a man-on-the-street-style interview that went viral on TikTok earlier this summer. Unsurprisingly, Wilson immediately wanted to know how Welch felt about being known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl.”
“We’re trying to step away from it,” Welch admitted, noting that she would rather just be known by her first name and “not Mrs. Hawk.”
Welch — who has since appeared on podcasts and even came out on stage at country singer Zach Bryan’s concert last month — also told Wilson what she’s planning to do with her newfound fame. “We’re steering towards podcasts and stuff like that. And a reality TV show, we’ve talked about it,” she said.
To be completely honest, the chemistry between the duo was undeniable. Welch divulged her three icks: long toenails, bad hygiene and being called “baby girl.” And Wilson told her about his snuggling habits and his family. However, he probably didn’t expect his date to be more into his cattle-rancher dad than him.
Wilson explained that his dad (Cowboy Bruce) wears a cowboy hat and neckerchief every day, which piqued the Tennessee native’s interest.
“A neckerchief, you say? Forget you, I want your daddy,” Welch joked, to which Wilson replied, “People say that to me all the time.”
The internet sensation’s mouth dropped open when she saw a photo of Wilson’s father, before asking, “Why didn’t I go on a date with your dad?”
By the end of her time with Wilson, Welch confessed that it was “probably one of the best dates” she had ever been on.
“He actually genuinely wants to get to know you. So that was a good part. I definitely would’ve schooled him if we had more time,” she said, before giving one fair warning to future girls who decide to go on a date with Wilson. “Watch out for that all-denim suit he’s got on. Just try to talk him out of it, please.”
Wilson, for his part, looked back on his experience with Welch in an exclusive interview with Page Six.
“It was fun going on a little day date with Haliey. She got thrown into the spotlight almost against her will, so I wanted to make sure she knew I wasn’t there to beat her viral meme over everyone’s heads,” he said. “Everyone has a story and I wanted to get to know more about her and help her leave ‘Hawk Tuah’ in the past.”
Check out the full episode above.
