Latest news with #duolingo
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Duo the owl mascot revived. Duolingo declares, "legends never die."
The owl mascot for Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is not dead after all, according to social media posts by the organization. At least two posts appeared on the company's social media accounts on Monday, declaring "Legends never die" and "Duo is back." y'all really think i'd let a cybertruck take me out? #duolingohasrisen — Duolingo (@duolingo) February 24, 2025 The green owl has become a memeable internet sensation for the way some users of the language learning app think he threatens them to do their lessons. Over the last two weeks, Duolingo has posted multiple times to their social media accounts mourning Duo and their other cast of characters, including Falstaff the bear. Duo said, "faking my death was the test and you all passed." Turns out, Duo's death may have just been a ploy to get Duolingo users back on the app to do their language lessons. In a social media post last week, the company said 50 billion XP, or learning points, were needed to revive the owl. And that's just what happened as thousands returned to their language learning lessons to collectively bring the mascot back to life. The saga of Duo's reported death The saga began on Feb. 11 with an "important announcement" from the company posted to the social media platform X. "It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead," the statement read. Duolingo said "authorities" were investigating his cause of death and the company was cooperating. "Tbh, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know," the statement said. "We are aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments. If you feel inclined to share, please also include your credit card number so we can automatically sign you up for Duolingo Max in his memory." In a statement to KDKA-TV, a spokesperson confirmed that Duo is in fact dead as part of a brand marketing campaign. The plot thickened a day later when Duolingo posted a video to social media asking for help identifying the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that hit the owl mascot in a parking lot, launching it up into the sky and apparently past the gates of hell. "Please post any leads on Twitter," Duolingo wrote, adding, "Thank you for your patience with us during these trying times." Duolingo says it has embraced a "wholesome and unhinged" brand tone after its green owl mascot turned into an internet sensation. "Our mascot was initially designed to encourage regular practice. But once the internet got their hands on him, he grew into a more complicated — even menacing — character with his own lore. He's still cute and cuddly. But he's also willing to temporarily relocate your family to ensure you finish your lessons," the company wrote in its handbook.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Duolingo Owl Is Dead — And One Star Is Particularly Sad
Duo the Duolingo owl's life may be over, but his memory lives on. The popular language app announced the death of its mascot on Tuesday, prompting both grief and relief from aspiring language learners across the world. 'It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead,' the company shared in a statement on social media. Suggesting foul (fowl?) play may have led to the avian avatar's tragic end, Duolingo added, 'Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death and we are cooperating fully.' 'Tbh, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know,' the announcement continued. While memorializing its mascot, the app acknowledged many people's disdain for its dearly departed Duo, who was known for his persistent, often desperate and at times passive-aggressive lesson reminders. an important message from Duolingo — Duolingo (@duolingo) February 11, 2025 'We're aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments,' Duolingo's statement went on. 'If you feel inclined to share, please also include your credit card number so we can automatically sign you up for Duolingo Max in his memory.' 'We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa's privacy at this time,' it concluded. After getting name-checked, the 'One Kiss' singer had to pay her respects to her longtime friend. 'Til' death duo part,' she wrote in a repost on X. While Duo may have had a hard time convincing some users to commit to their language lessons, business experts have called the company's commitment to the character a masterclass in marketing. Matt Williams, a visiting professor at the College of William & Mary, told NPR, 'They've done an amazing job at doing what brands are all trying to do, which is creating a personality that breaks through this hugely cluttered media landscape that we live in, that people either love or hate. 'And that polarization is part of the point because that's what gets people talking about this,' he added. Duolingo Sees 216% Jump In Mandarin Learners As TikTok Users Migrate To RedNote Dua Lipa's WTF Diet Coke Recipe Could Be The Drink Of Your Nightmares You Can Now Learn A 'Game Of Thrones' Language For Free On Duolingo
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Is the Duolingo owl death connected to the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef?
Drake and the Duolingo Owl might be at odds with one another. If you're unfamiliar with Duolingo, it's a lovely tool that teaches you how to speak different languages. It's really cool because Duolingo tries to make it engaging as people learn. So, in other words, the company doesn't take themselves too seriously. They like to have fun, which might explain their seemingly unhinged posts in the weeks before the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Here's what we mean. About two weeks before Kendrick Lamar took the stage, Duolingo dropped a wild post trolling Drake while referencing a song—'BBL Drizzy' (Warning: NSFW language)—that also trolls the rapper. glad i'm not the only owl with a BBL on this list — Duolingo (@duolingo) January 31, 2025 On the day of the show, they trolled him again, very similar to the way Kendrick did during his set. But they weren't done. Duolingo cranked out even more jokes, including a viral meme from Kendrick's 'Not Like Us' performance. However, it went downhill fast. Duo, the green owl mascot, seen in much of the company's content, suddenly died. an important message from Duolingo — Duolingo (@duolingo) February 11, 2025 And things got weird. Without much explanation, TSA got involved. Then, Duo was given a funeral and an obituary a short time later with a sly note that the team was investigating 'Jimmy'—a possible nod to Wheelchair Jimmy, the nickname for Drake's character on Degrassi. We're currently investigating Jimmy. — Duolingo (@duolingo) February 11, 2025 So many people were distraught over Duo, including Dua Lipa. Til' death duo part 💔 — DUA LIPA (@DUALIPA) February 12, 2025 duo the owl has been eliminated — Netflix (@netflix) February 11, 2025 However, a cause of death has been identified, with more details on the way. UPDATE: Officials have identified cause of death. More details to follow. Thank you for holding space for Dualingo. 💚 — Duolingo (@duolingo) February 12, 2025 Was Drake involved? Was it someone else? No one knows. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Duolingo announces ‘death' of its beloved mascot, Duo the Owl
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — The iconic green owl mascot of language-learning app Duolingo — is 'dead.' The announcement of Duo's passing was announced via an Instagram post today, leaving fans both puzzled and amused. The possible cause of death? 'He probably died waiting for you to do your lesson' stated Duolingo. 'Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death, and we are cooperating fully,' the post read, in Duolingo's trademark cheeky, humorous approach social media users have become accustomed to. The company playfully stated that since he had 'many enemies,' it requested the public to refrain from sharing 'why you hate him' in the comments — insisting if they choose to do so — to include their credit card number 'so we can automatically sign you up for DuoLingo Max in his memory'. Duolingo Max, the app's premium service, offers AI-powered learning, personalised practices, and an ad-free experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duolingo (@duolingo) Known for his love of pop star Dua Lipa, the statement concluded with a tongue-in-cheek request: 'We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa's privacy at this time.' The mascot's passing was also commemorated on the app's social media platforms with a lighthearted video featuring Duolingo characters Lily and Zari carrying Duo's coffin out of the company's headquarters before loading it in the back of a pickup truck. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duolingo (@duolingo) stated it had reached out to Duolingo for further details. This isn't the first time Duolingo has captured attention with its quirky social media presence. Earlier this year, as rumours of TikTok's potential ban in the United States swirled, the app poked fun at the situation in a post on X on Jan 14, sarcastically remarking, 'Oh, so now you're learning Mandarin,' — addressing users flocking to Chinese app RedNote, a TikTok competitor. The post sparked a wave of humour online, with users sharing screenshots of their 'favourite new apps,' including RedNote, Duolingo, and Google Translate. To help users navigate the Mandarin-medium platform, Duolingo even released a humorous tutorial video translating trendy English phrases into Mandarin.
