‘Sleazy’: Hawk Tuah girl slammed after throwing out first pitch at Mets game

A legendary US sports broadcaster has savaged the Hawk Tuah girl after the viral star continued to milk her “15 minutes of fame”.

The “Sports Pope” is not here for the 15 minutes of fame for the “Hawk Tuah” girl.

The viral star, whose real name is Hailey Welch, threw out the first pitch before Thursday’s day game between the Mets and A’s at Citi Field, extending her fame cycle following the infamous man-on-the-street interview in which she was heard saying “hawk tuah” to describe sexual acts.

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While speaking on his eponymous podcast, Francesa, who cited the Mets suffering a brutal loss in the game — they led 5-0 after three innings only to lose 7-6 for their fifth loss in six games — was annoyed with the team’s performance.

But moreover, he questioned the Mets marketing team for having Welch toss out the first pitch on a “camp day” game, where there was likely a high number of young fans in the ballpark.

“I know she’s in her 15 minutes of fame, she just struck a chord and went viral with some sleazy answer to a man on the street question,” Francesa acknowledged of Welch.

“Knowing that that’s the case that her fleeting fame was about something as suggestive as her answer was, what in the world would possess the Mets to bring her in to throw out the first ball? And, on top of it, on camp day.”

Haliey Welch threw out the first pitch. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

She also chest bumped with a friend. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Francesa later continued, “You have heard me say on numerous occasions, and it’s continued through the ownership change, that the Mets could screw up a one-car funeral.”

“What would ever possess somebody and, I would think that that person would have spent last night not answering the phone and today running for cover while cleaning out their desk, whoever came up with the idea,” he continued.

“Whoever in the marketing or promotional department decided it was a good idea to bring this girl in and glorify her and shine the spotlight on her and let her throw out the first pitch, which got them utterly destroyed from coast to coast, what the hell are they thinking?

“Could you imagine when the owner is explaining to his wife exactly who this girl is?” he added through a laugh.

The decision to have Welch throw out the first pitch was polarising, with WFAN’s Sal Licata having similar opinions as Francesa.

“The Yankees have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto breaking records. (Babe) Ruth, (Mickey) Mantle, (Lou), Gehrig and the Mets have Grimace and now ‘Hawk Tuah.’ Come on, bro, I can’t take it, I cannot take it anymore” WFAN’s Sal Licata, a noted Mets fan, ranted during his and Brandon Tierney’s show Thursday. “It’s ridiculous. And then you wonder why fans get so ticked off and upset. It’s embarrassing.

“Is it the biggest deal in the world? No, absolutely. Does it mean anything on the field? No. But that’s the problem. The problem on the field isn’t good enough and you come up with these silly gimmicks that are laughing stock. It’s a joke. ‘Hawk Tuah.’”

Hawk Tuah girl went viral earlier this year.

Francesa hit out at the move. Photo: Instagram

Welch opened up about her appearance with a social media post on Friday, saying she was at Citi Field on behalf of the charity America’s Vet Dogs, which helps place service animals with military veterans and first responders.

“So I guess some of the baseball community wasn’t too happy to see me yesterday,” Welch responded.

“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.”

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.