How do you say “resurrected” in your favorite Duolingo-offered language? Duo the owl, mascot of the Duolingo language-learning app, was recently killed off by the company — but on Feb. 24, he was brought back to life. Social media posts show Duo (well, a person in a Duo mask and neon-green suit) hopping out of a coffin. The video features the words “LEGENDS NEVER DIE” and the caption, “y’all really think I’d let a Cybertruck take me out?”
The company had posted a link urging Duolingo users to take a language lesson to help bring the mascot back to life.
“It’s Duo or Die!” a message on the site read. “Let’s work together to bring Duo back before it’s too late! Do a lesson now.”
The site was then updated with stats showing which countries earned the most experience points, or XP, which is the currency Duolingo awards to users after practicing a language. The US topped the list, followed by Germany, Brazil, China and India.
“Duo is saved!” the site read, as of Feb. 24.
“Duo is officially back!” the company said in a statement sent to CNET. “After a global effort to revive him, our favorite green owl has returned — though how he came back varies across different markets.”
The death certainly earned the company headlines, and there could be another twist on the way.
“We’re not done telling this story just yet — more details on what really happened to Duo will be revealed soon,” the statement teased.
This resurrection may feel familiar. In 2020, another brand famously killed off its mascot: Mr. Peanut was roasted by Planters in an ad that ran before that year’s Super Bowl. Mr. Peanut’s death didn’t last long either; he was resurrected as a baby nut in an ad that ran during the game.
Watch this: The Life and Death of the Duolingo Owl: Tech Therapy
Duo’s death
After the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Duo cheerfully mocked the (metaphorical) death of rapper Drake during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, posting a crude animation with the caption, “Drake after attending his own funeral on national TV.” But two days later, it was the green cartoon owl who ended up dead, murdered by Duolingo’s marketing team.
After the announcement, the company advertised the sale of Duo plushies in coffin-shaped boxes, writing “All Duo Plushie purchases come with a free, limited edition memorial coffin box, while supplies last.”
‘Died waiting for you to do your lesson’
In a mock-somber social-media post after the “death” was announced, the language app company announced that authorities were investigating Duo’s death, writing, “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 post, which appeared on multiple platforms, mentioned that Duo, “Formally known as The Duolingo Owl,” had “many enemies.” Duolingo then posted a memorial, referring to the mascot as Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo. “In lieu of flowers, please do a Duolingo lesson,” the company wrote. A TikTok video showed other mascots transporting a coffin containing the owl onto a pickup truck.
In another post, the company said, “Update: Officials have identified cause of death. More details to follow. Thank you for holding space for Duolingo.”
Hours later, Duolingo didn’t reveal a culprit, but did show the manner of death: In a video, Duo is hit by a Tesla Cybertruck (after a warning that the content may be sensitive to some owls).
The dead mascot floats through the cosmos and past a scary set of gates (do mascots go to hell?). In the caption, the company said, “Reward for whoever can identify the driver.”
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The Duo-Dua Lipa connection
The blitz of posts drew attention from internet meme-makers, who speculated on how the death came to be. Brands like Baskin Robbins, Cheez-Its, popular video game Halo and streamer Netflix all acknowledged the fictional passing, the last of these with a Squid Game tie-in. The Monster Hunter game franchise tried to take credit for the death in its own post.
Perhaps most bizarrely (or sweetly, depending on your point of view), pop star Dua Lipa posted: “Til’ death duo part” with a broken-heart emoji.
Dua Lipa previously appeared in a video with the mascot and was, in this fictional narrative, perhaps dating the owl.
In the death announcement, Duolingo wrote, “We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time.”
Watch this: Barn owl vs. DJI drone: Which is the ultimate flyer?
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