Duolingo took to social media on Tuesday to announce that it has killed off its mascot, or, reasonably, the chook has died.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally referred to as The Duolingo Owl, is useless,” the submit begins. “Authorities are presently investigating his demise and we’re cooperating absolutely.”
We recommend checking the advertising division for proof.
“TBH, he in all probability died ready so that you can do your lesson, however what do we all know?” the corporate continued. “In case you really feel inclined to share, please additionally embrace your bank card quantity so we are able to robotically signal you up for Duolingo Max in his reminiscence.”
In a press release to a CBS affiliate, a Duolingo spokesperson confirmed that as part of a brand new model advertising marketing campaign, Duo is “useless” however folks should not really submit their bank card data, as that a part of the submit was purported to be a joke.
The owl’s reputation has taken on a lifetime of its personal, with the chook even making an look at Berlin Style Week final month.
It is not the primary time Duolingo has been unconventional in its strategy to advertising (and conferences). In November 2024, the corporate changed CEO Luis von Ahn on its earnings name with its purple-haired chatbot, Lily.
“Over time, she’s going to do an increasing number of of my job, and I can simply retire,” von Ahn stated, on the time.
The Duolingo chook throughout the Marina Hoermanseder Style Present as a part of the Berlin Style Week AW25 at Lodge Oderberger on January 31, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (Picture by Isa Foltin/Hoermanseder by way of Getty Photographs)
The submit ends with the corporate asking everybody to “respect Dua Lipa’s privateness right now.”
The corporate’s TikTok account has been posting about Dua Lipa for years, with Duolingo’s social media group retaining the gag related with common posting.
Though the corporate did not say what killed the owl, the advertising group determined to do that in the midst of the worldwide chook flu, although it isn’t clear if that was intentional or ill-timed. Nonetheless, we’ll look ahead to the ultimate post-mortem.
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