Duolingo took to social media on Tuesday to announce that it has killed off its mascot, or, quite, the chook has died.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally often known as The Duolingo Owl, is useless,” the publish begins. “Authorities are presently investigating his demise and we’re cooperating absolutely.”
We recommend checking the advertising and marketing 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 will routinely signal you up for Duolingo Max in his reminiscence.”
In a assertion 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 publish their bank card data, as that a part of the publish was presupposed to be a joke.
The owl’s recognition has taken on a lifetime of its personal, with the chook even making an look at Berlin Trend 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 name 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 chook throughout the Marina Hoermanseder Trend Present as a part of the Berlin Trend Week AW25 at Resort Oderberger on January 31, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (Picture by Isa Foltin/Hoermanseder by way of Getty Photos)
The publish 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 group preserving the gag related with common posting.
Though the corporate did not say what killed the owl, the advertising and marketing 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 anticipate the ultimate post-mortem.
