The New York Mets are no strangers to viral moments, but their latest attempt to generate social media buzz has left some fans and commentators fuming. On Thursday afternoon, Haliey Welch, better known online as the ‘Hawk Tuah Girl,’ took to the mound at Citi Field to throw out the first pitch as the Mets faced the Oakland Athletics.
The Hawk Tuah girl just threw out the first pitch at the Mets game 😭 pic.twitter.com/uDaf7w7Xe0
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 15, 2024
While the stunt was meant to be a lighthearted and fun moment, it quickly sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from WFAN radio host Sal Licata.
In a heated on-air segment, Licata didn’t hold back his frustration, expressing his dismay over the Mets’ decision to honor Welch, whose viral fame stems from a somewhat risqué joke.
“The Yankees have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto breaking records, and the Mets have Grimace and now Hawk Tuah. Come on, bro, I can’t take it! I cannot take it anymore. It’s ridiculous,” Licata ranted, highlighting the stark contrast between the Mets’ gimmicks and the achievements of their crosstown rivals.
.@sal_licata absolutely loses it after seeing the "Hawk Tuah girl" throw out the Mets ceremonial first pitch 😂 pic.twitter.com/yiqo7zVfOz
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) August 15, 2024
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The criticism didn’t stop with Licata. Many fans took to social media to voice their disapproval, questioning the appropriateness of the choice, especially for a game attended by many young fans.
One person sarcastically posted to X, “Nothing says family-friendly more than having the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl throw the first pitch at a Mets game”.
So I guess some of the baseball community wasn’t too happy to see me yesterday 😬
— Haliey Welch (@HalieyWelchX) August 16, 2024
The main reason I went to the game was to spread awareness and donate to America’s vet dogs which pairs dogs with war veterans for a forever home ♾️
Join me in donating to this amazing charity.… pic.twitter.com/MshybcjcgZ
The backlash seemed to stem from the disconnect between Welch’s online persona and the traditionally family-oriented atmosphere of a baseball game. Despite the criticism, Welch’s pitch was solid, and she even shared a celebratory chest bump with a friend afterward.
However, the Mets couldn’t capitalize on the moment, as they went on to lose the game to the Athletics after blowing a five-run lead, a result that only added to the frustration of their fan base.
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