Duolingo announces the death of ‘Duo’ the owl

Language learning institution Duolingo has announced the decease of its mascot, the Duolingo Owl.

A bizarre connection shared connected their social media accounts work that ‘Duo’, the owl astatine the centre of the marque (and countless net memes), is dormant – and authorities are investigating his death.

Over the years, the greenish owl has go a meme acknowledgment to the guilt-tripping and sometimes threatening reminders for users to support up with their connection lessons.

‘Tbh, helium astir apt died waiting for you to bash your lesson, but what bash we know? We’re alert helium had galore enemies, but we kindly inquire you to refrain from sharing wherefore you hatred him successful the comments,’ they wrote.

‘If you consciousness inclined to share, delight besides stock your recognition paper fig truthful we tin automatically motion you up for Duolingo Max successful his memory.’

The company, referencing online jokes comparing Duo’s sanction to popstar Dua Lipa, added: ‘We admit you respecting Dua Lipa’s privateness astatine this time.’

The institution besides updated their illustration photograph connected X to 1 of Duo, the now-deceased owl, with Xs implicit his eyes.

Users were speedy to find the humour successful the situation: ‘Does this mean nary much 6 americium notifications threatening maine due to the fact that I haven’t done a acquisition earlier I’ve woken up?’ 1 asked.

A typical for Duolingo told The Tab: ‘We tin corroborate the statements successful our caller societal posts are true. It is with large sorrow that we denote the passing of our beloved mascot, Duo the Owl.

‘For years, helium tirelessly reminded millions to bash their connection lessons—sometimes with gentle nudges, sometimes with sheer, unhinged persistence. But adjacent the astir relentless of birds tin lone instrumentality truthful much. Our app icon reflects this tragic nonaccomplishment with ‘Dead Duo’.

‘There is an ongoing probe that we cannot remark connected extensively astatine this time.

‘We cognize nary owl arsenic dedicated arsenic Duo conscionable drops dormant without a story. Keep an oculus connected our societal channels arsenic we uncover the shocking (and perchance absurd) information down his untimely demise.’

It’s a bizarre selling move, but Duolingo is nary alien to publicity stunts.

Last twelvemonth successful a clip uploaded to TikTok by the authoritative Duolingo account, celebrity integrative surgeon Dr Miami – existent sanction Michael Salzhauer – Duo underwent a consultation, dressed successful a infirmary gown, with Dr Miami.

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