Internet sensation Haliey Welch, known to fans as the “Hawk Tuah girl,” has officially introduced her boyfriend, Kelby Blackwell, known affectionately as “Pookie.” Welch brought Blackwell onto her podcast, Talk Tuah, in the episode aired on November 12, finally unveiling the identity behind the mystery man she’s hinted at for months.
Since June 2024, Welch’s followers have speculated about her relationship status, particularly after she referred to “Pookie” in a now-viral TikTok interview, passionately proclaiming, “I love you, Pookie! Forever!” This viral moment sparked curiosity, with fans guessing about the identity of this mysterious figure. Haliey Welch maintained the suspense for months, only dropping hints. In a July 2024 appearance on BS with Jake Paul, she hinted that Pookie had black hair and “the longest eyelashes you’d ever seen,” but avoided disclosing his full identity, playfully referring to their status as a “situationship.”
The intrigue continued until Haliey Welch revealed in an October episode of Talk Tuah that she and Pookie had made things official. In her words, “Pookie’s officially my man.” During this latest episode, Welch and Blackwell opened up about their relationship, sharing that although they made things official recently, they’ve known each other for about three years.
So, who is Kelby “Pookie” Blackwell? Unlike the high-profile world Welch has grown into, Blackwell lives a quieter life. He works as a plumber and shared on the podcast that he prefers his small-town lifestyle, even as his relationship with Welch gains public attention. The couple explained that their relationship had been on-and-off, and Blackwell confessed that after a previous two-year relationship ended, he took time to focus on himself before diving into anything serious with Haliey Welch. He admitted, “I didn’t want to bring the hurt on to her,” which kept him from making things official earlier.
The couple’s history includes frequent Snapchat exchanges, even before they officially met in person. Their first in-person encounter happened somewhat casually when Blackwell saw Welch with his cousin, Alyssa, outside of a Sonic restaurant. Welch’s close friend Chelsea raised the rumor that Blackwell only committed after Welch gained internet fame, but Blackwell dismissed such speculation, saying, “You can believe what you want at the end of the day. I know what I feel in my heart and that I love Haliey, and that’s just that.”
During the podcast, Blackwell also admitted to being a bit of a jealous boyfriend. He said he doesn’t take issue with most people sliding into Welch’s DMs but joked that he would only be bothered depending on who the person was and what they said. He added humorously that if any celebrities reached out to Welch, he wouldn’t mind.
Despite being known by fans now as “Pookie,” Blackwell joked that he no longer feels he has his own identity, especially as his coworkers have picked up the nickname. But he doesn’t mind; as long as he’s got Welch’s heart, he’s content. The couple’s open discussion on Talk Tuah gave fans an authentic glimpse into their love story and marked the end of speculation surrounding Welch’s mystery man, “Pookie.”
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….
