The unexpected news about the alleged death of Duolingo owl has caused quite a stir on social media. From speculation about a marketing strategy to conspiracy theories of a political nature, its passing has sparked all kinds of comments. This Wednesday, the brand behind the popular language learning app revealed more details about the cause and timing of the supposed demise of its iconic mascot.
According to posts shared on its official channels, the owl was allegedly run over by a Cybertruck, the electric vehicle manufactured by Tesla, a company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who is closely associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
What happened to the Duolingo owl?
On Tuesday, February 11, the company itself, through X (formerly Twitter), stated: “With great sorrow, we inform you that Duo, formally known as Duolingo Owl, has died. Authorities are investigating the cause of his death, and we are fully cooperating. To be honest, he probably died while waiting for you to complete your lesson, but who really knows?”.
ALSOR READ: Duolingo Owl is Dead: What Happened?
Marketing strategy
For several years, Duolingo has been known for its creative and sometimes irreverent approach on social media. Some users believe that the “death” of its mascot could be an advertising campaign designed to attract audience attention. Others point out that, given the company’s history of posting viral and humorous content, it would make sense to think of this as a stunt aimed at generating global conversation and promoting subscriptions to its service.
The official post continued with a sarcastic tone: “We know he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing in the comments why you hated him. If you feel inclined to share, please also include your credit card number so we can automatically enroll you in Duolingo Max (the company’s premium subscription service) in his memory.”
The community was quick to react. One user mourned the loss with the following reflection: “My brother spent his last days begging me to learn French… and I ignored him… I will never recover from this.” Another simply asked, “Do you suspect any foul play?” Meanwhile, Duolingo responded clearly: “Instead of flowers, do a Duolingo lesson.”
The company’s unusual sense of humor was also reflected in the final part of the statement, which concluded with a comment involving singer Dua Lipa: “We appreciate your respect for Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time.”
Is there a political message behind the Duolingo owl’s death?
The theory that this might be a political message arises because the vehicle involved in the accident allegedly belongs to Tesla, a company led by Elon Musk, who is one of Donald Trump’s closest advisors.
Although the app modified its icon, showing the owl with X’s for eyes and its tongue sticking out, inside the platform, it still appears as if nothing happened. In fact, some users speculate that at any moment, it will return “from the beyond” with an even more surprising announcement. Duolingo confirmed to CNN that this Wednesday, it would reveal more details about “the shocking (and possibly absurd) truth behind his premature disappearance.”
Who is Duolingo’s CEO?
Luis von Ahn, Ph.D., has served as the CEO and board member since he founded Duolingo with Severin Hacker in August 2011. Previously, he served as CEO of reCAPTCHA from 2007 until its acquisition by Google in 2009. Luis holds a B.S. in Mathematics from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
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@duolingo UPDATE: Reward for whoever can identify the driver. Please post any leads on TikTok. Thank you for your patience with us during these trying times. #RIPduo
