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