Duolingo’s Owl Duo Declared Dead in Bizarre Social Media Stunt

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Duolingo, the popular language-learning app, shocked fans on February 11, 2025, with a lighthearted yet bizarre announcement declaring that its beloved mascot, Duo the Owl, has died. The statement, made via social media, suggested that authorities are currently investigating the cause of death.

“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead,” the post read. In a quintessentially humorous twist, Duolingo speculated, “Tbh, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know?”

The app further referred to Duo having “many enemies” and humorously requested that readers refrain from sharing any negative comments. They cheekily added, “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.” The playful tone continued with a nod to the ongoing joke about Duo’s supposed crush on pop star Dua Lipa, concluding with a request to respect her privacy during this time.

A Duolingo spokesperson later stated, “Duo has tirelessly reminded millions to do their language lessons—sometimes with gentle nudges, sometimes with sheer, unhinged persistence. But even the most relentless of birds can only take so much. Our app icon reflects this tragic loss with ‘Dead Duo.'” The company confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation, but details were limited at this time.

Known for its irreverent social media presence, this announcement is not the first time Duolingo has engaged in an unusual marketing stunt. Fans are reminded of last year’s April Fool’s Day joke announcing Duo’s starring role in a wacky multilingual musical titled *Duolingo on Ice!*

Global senior social media manager Zaria Parvez praised Duo’s chaotic personality, stating, “Duolingo’s whole personality has always been about making language learning fun and doing fun things. We’ve created this really awesome community where I can post stuff and have a fun banter with commenters.” Duolingo has indeed leveraged the mascot’s popularity to foster a community of dedicated language learners and internet memes.

Online reactions following the announcement were swift and varied, with many users lauding the creativity of the marketing initiative. One user remarked, “This is the best commercial I have seen this year. Absolute cinema,” while another lamented, “Bro spent his last days begging me to learn French… and I ignored him… I will never recover from this.”

Duo has been a staple of Duolingo’s identity since the app’s inception in 2012. The green owl, often depicted with a range of emotions from joy to disappointment, has become an integral part of the brand’s image. Over the years, Duo has served as an internet sensation, humorously portrayed as reminding users of their lessons with a tone both nurturing and slightly threatening.

As the story of Duo’s demise unfolds, Duolingo remains committed to its playful and humorous approach. “We know no owl as dedicated as Duo just drops dead without a story. Keep an eye on our social channels as we uncover the shocking (and possibly absurd) truth behind his untimely demise,” the representative stated.