Rumor Debunked: James Gunn Not Casting Hawk Tuah Girl Haliey Welch in DCU
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A bizarre rumor recently made waves on social media, suggesting that James Gunn was planning to cast Tennessee influencer Haliey Welch, famously known as the Hawk Tuah girl, as a “major character” in the DC Universe. However, the claim has been thoroughly debunked, leaving fans and skeptics alike scratching their heads over its origins.
James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, is currently hard at work building the next chapter of the DC Universe, aiming to rival Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut. The alleged casting of Welch—who gained viral fame in 2024 for her quirky catchphrase and controversial ventures—sparked confusion and skepticism across the internet.
The rumor began circulating on December 11, when an X (formerly Twitter) account falsely claimed that Gunn was considering Welch for a significant role in an upcoming DCU project. The account even attributed the “scoop” to reputable entertainment reporter Jeff Sneider, who quickly and angrily refuted the claim.
This is a lie. Never said this. This account is making this shit up. Where are the community notes NOW, Elon? Or can anyone just put words in my mouth now? https://t.co/zM1PRN2ZDd
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) December 11, 2024Advertisement
“This is a lie. Never said this. This account is making this sh*t up. Where are the community notes NOW, Elon?” Sneider tweeted, demanding that the post be flagged for spreading misin formation. Shortly after, the post was indeed tagged with a community note debunking the claim.
Welch rose to fame as the Hawk Tuah girl in 2024, leveraging her viral notoriety to launch a podcast, create a dating site, and dabble in cryptocurrency—albeit controversially, as she was accused of scamming her followers. Despite her online presence, there’s no credible evidence linking her to any DCU projects.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the only tall tale involving the DC Universe and Sneider that surfaced that day. Another X account humorously claimed that Sneider reported Brainiac and his pet monkey Koko would be “major characters” in an upcoming Superman film, with actor Chris Pratt rumored to voice Koko. Sneider promptly dismissed the claim, calling it “garbage from some troll looking for clout.”
More garbage from some troll looking for clout they'll never have. https://t.co/EyJv0k17Jt
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) December 11, 2024
These incidents underscore the importance of verifying rumors before believing or sharing them. As amusing as the idea of Welch joining the DCU might be, it’s clear that this story was nothing more than a fabrication. For now, James Gunn’s casting decisions will remain grounded in fan suggestions and his own creative vision, leaving viral influencers like Haliey Welch out of the spotlight—at least for now.
While the internet will continue to churn out wild rumors, fans would do well to approach such claims with skepticism and wait for official announcements from credible sources.
they're saying this is fake but it's not, it's real pic.twitter.com/zU04W8DCim
— John DiLillo (@JohnDiLillo) December 11, 2024
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Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
