If you’ve opened the Duolingo app recently and been greeted by a dead-eyed, lifeless version of Duo the Owl, don’t panic — you didn’t forget your Chinese lessons so badly that the poor bird gave up on life.
The infamously persistent green owl has been declared dead by Duolingo in what might be one of the most bizarre (and genius) marketing stunts we’ve seen in a while.
What Happened?
Duolingo made an official announcement about the death of Duo the Owl via X. Screenshot by That's
On February 11, Duolingo made a shocking announcement:
“It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mascot, Duo the Owl.”
The company went on to claim that Duo’s cause of death is still under investigation, though many suspect that he simply couldn’t handle the heartbreak of users skipping their daily language lessons.
Adding to the chaos, Duolingo’s official X account even encouraged users to share their credit card numbers in Duo’s memory so they could be 'automatically signed up for Duolingo Max.'
Duolingo later clarified that this was, of course, a joke.
Duolingo held a funeral for Duo the Owl on TikTok. Screenshot by That's
Accompanying the announcement was a TikTok video showing characters Lily and Zari — familiar faces from Duolingo lessons, carrying Duo’s coffin to a pickup truck, sending him off in true meme-worthy fashion.
The Internet Mourns (& Roasts) Duo
As expected, the internet responded with a mix of shock, sadness, and pure comedy gold.
Netflix responded in Squid Game fashion. Screenshot by That's
Netflix jumped in, posting a clip of Duo being eliminated in Squid Game with the caption, “Sending my condolences fr (for real).”
Screenshot by That's
World Health Organization (WHO) mused on his cause of death, adding, “One thing we know for sure: It's not smallpox, because the disease has been eradicated since 1980.”
Pop star Dua Lipa, who has long been humorously linked to Duo due to their similar names, responded with a simple broken-heart emoji.
Even the University of Miami, clearly emotionally invested, commented on TikTok: “Duo, we cannot take this right now. It’s literally our centennial this year.”
Who Was Duo the Owl?
Image via @Duolingo/X
For those new to the Duolingo cult, Duo the Owl has been the app’s relentless mascot since 2012.
Originally designed as a friendly learning companion, Duo quickly became one of the most iconic (and terrifying) figures in app culture thanks to his aggressive lesson reminders.
Over the years, he has evolved into an internet meme legend, appearing in countless viral videos, parodying pop culture trends, and even obsessively 'stanning' Dua Lipa.
Love him or fear him, there’s no denying Duo’s impact on digital learning.
Marketing Genius or Just a Bad Joke?
So, was this all just a marketing stunt?
Absolutely, and a pretty effective one.
By faking Duo’s death, Duolingo has:
Gone viral across social media
Sparked mass engagement from both users and brands
Made people talk about Duolingo in a way that’s never been done before
However, joking about credit card numbers (even in obvious jest) is a bold move in an era where cybersecurity is a real concern.
While most users laughed it off, there’s always the risk that someone, somewhere, took it a bit too seriously.
So… Is Duolingo Dead?
Screenshot by That's
Nope, Duolingo is alive and well.
But Duo the Owl? He might be taking a little break.
Whether this is a temporary prank or a prelude to a Duo Resurrection Arc, one thing’s for sure: this little green bird isn’t leaving our lives anytime soon.
For more unhinged tech news, follow our WeChat official account, ThatsGBA!
[Cover image by That's]
0 User Comments