Duolingo took to social media on Tuesday to announce that it has killed off its mascot, or, relatively, the hen 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 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. “If you happen to really feel inclined to share, please additionally embody your bank card quantity so we will mechanically 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 really publish their bank card info, as that a part of the publish was alleged to be a joke.
The owl’s reputation has taken on a lifetime of its personal, with the hen even making an look at Berlin Vogue Week final month.
It is not 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 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 hen throughout the Marina Hoermanseder Vogue Present as a part of the Berlin Vogue Week AW25 at Lodge Oderberger on January 31, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (Photograph by Isa Foltin/Hoermanseder by way of Getty Photographs)
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 crew protecting the gag related with common posting.
Though the corporate did not say what killed the owl, the advertising and marketing crew determined to do that in the course of the worldwide hen flu, although it isn’t clear if that was intentional or ill-timed. Nonetheless, we’ll look forward to the ultimate post-mortem.
