Mike Tyson’s Son Blasts Viral Sensation Haliey Welch for Misquoting Jay-Z’s ‘Empire State of Mind’
In a new viral uproar, Haliey Welch, known on social media as ‘Hawk Tuah Girl,’ has stirred controversy with a misguided rendition of Jay-Z’s iconic track, “Empire State of Mind.” The 22-year-old’s offbeat performance has ignited a fiery reaction from none other than Amir Tyson, the eldest son of boxing legend Mike Tyson.
The Viral Misstep
Haliey Welch’s fame began earlier this year when she captured attention during a Nashville street interview at CMA Fest. Her rise continued with an appearance on Bill Maher’s ‘Club Random Podcast,’ which aired on July 28. However, it was an excerpt from the episode shared on social media that propelled her into the spotlight once again.
In the podcast, Welch expressed her appreciation for “old rap,” but her commentary on Jay-Z’s work—specifically her jumbled lyrics of “Empire State of Mind”—set the internet abuzz. Welch’s attempt at singing the song featured a hilariously incorrect line: “He’s like, ‘concrete jungle wet dream tomato.’ You know, about New York.”
Haliey reveals she is into “old rap”, prompting Maher to suggest he feels Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z’s songs were “old rap”.
To this, Welch suggested that she doesn’t listen to those artists, but is a big fan of the Jay-Z song “about New York”. This was a reference to Jay-Z’s collaboration with Alicia Keys in the ‘Empire State of Mind’ track. It followed Welch singing the song, although, fair warning, with the wrong lyrics. “He’s like, ‘concrete jungle wet dream tomato.’ You know, about New York”, Welch sang.
When the son of Mike Tyson, Amir, discovered it on Instagram today, he quickly shared it in his story with a long and disheartened message. “Our country is f**ked… This era of 15 minutes of intense fame to complete irrelevancy has gotten completely out of hand. Only people from the internet that have… gained actual celebrity status are the Paul brothers and maybe the Speed, Kai cenant and Adin Ross… My kids and grandkids won’t have a clue who these streamers are lol”.
Amir Tyson’s Scathing Response
The clip made its way to Amir Tyson’s Instagram feed, where the reaction was anything but forgiving. Tyson’s discontent was palpable as he took to his stories to share his frustrations. His message read: “Our country is f**ked… This era of 15 minutes of intense fame to complete irrelevancy has gotten completely out of hand. Only people from the internet that have… gained actual celebrity status are the Paul brothers and maybe Speed, Kai Cenant, and Adin Ross… My kids and grandkids won’t have a clue who these streamers are lol.”
Tyson’s comments reflect a broader sentiment about the fleeting nature of internet fame and the seemingly superficial rise to stardom of individuals like Welch. While her gaffe was clearly a source of amusement for many, it also highlighted the growing divide between traditional celebrities and the new breed of internet personalities.
He said, “He’s gonna dump her, though, you know that,” hinting that the NFL star might end things with Taylor.
Hailey Welch, aka ‘Hawk Tuah Girl’ is a big Taylor Swift fan, jumped in with her own take, saying, “You gotta think about it this way, if he does that, can you imagine the next album we’re gonna get off of that?… it will be ‘F**k Travis”.
Bill Maher’s Bold Predictions
Adding fuel to the fire, the podcast also featured Bill Maher making bold predictions about celebrity relationships. Maher speculated that NFL star Travis Kelce might end his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift, comparing the potential breakup to the spectacle of a Super Bowl Gatorade dump. Welch’s take on this was equally provocative, humorously suggesting that any fallout would result in a scathing Taylor Swift album.
The Larger Conversation
This episode of ‘Club Random Podcast’ exemplifies how modern celebrity culture can be a double-edged sword. While Welch’s misquote was undoubtedly a source of laughter, it also sparked a conversation about the ephemeral nature of fame and the evolving landscape of public recognition.
Amir Tyson’s reaction underscores a growing frustration among traditional celebrities and influencers who feel overshadowed by the rapid rise of internet personalities. The clash between established figures and the new wave of fame is a testament to the shifting dynamics in how we celebrate and remember public figures.
