Duolingo took to social media on Tuesday to announce that it has killed off its mascot, or, somewhat, the fowl has died.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally generally known as The Duolingo Owl, is lifeless,” the post begins. “Authorities are presently investigating his demise and we’re cooperating absolutely.”
We recommend 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. “For those who really feel inclined to share, please additionally embody your bank card quantity so we will robotically 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 “lifeless” however individuals should not truly put up their bank card data, as that a part of the put up was presupposed to be a joke.
The owl’s recognition has taken on a lifetime of its personal, with the fowl even making an appearance at Berlin Style Week final month.
It isn’t the primary time Duolingo has been unconventional in its strategy 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 more of my job, and I can simply retire,” von Ahn stated, on the time.
The Duolingo fowl in the course of the Marina Hoermanseder Style Present as a part of the Berlin Style Week AW25 at Lodge Oderberger on January 31, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (Photograph by Isa Foltin/Hoermanseder by way of Getty Photos)
The put up ends with the corporate asking everybody to “respect Dua Lipa’s privateness at the moment.”
The corporate’s TikTok account has been posting about Dua Lipa for years, with Duolingo’s social media workforce holding the gag related with common posting.
Though the corporate did not say what killed the owl, the advertising and marketing workforce 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 ahead to the ultimate post-mortem.
