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The language-learning company posted on social media that their mascot “Duo” had died.
TEMPLE, Texas — Tributes and questions alike are pouring in after language-learning company Duolingo announced that their mascot, a cartoon owl named Duo, had died on Feb. 11.
“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead,” the company shared in a post on social media. “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”.
Duolingo is a web and mobile language-learning app that offers bite-sized lessons in over 40 languages, according to their app listing. Duo, the company’s mascot, featured prominently in their app, helping learners follow along with lessons or reminding those who were falling behind, and in their social media, recently sharing responses to things like the Dallas Mavericks’ infamous trade of Luka Doncic and Kendrick Lamar’s digs at Drake during his Super Bowl halftime show.
The company said Duo, whose full name they listed as “Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo”, had “many enemies”, but asked people to refrain from hateful comments on the post. In lieu of flowers, Duolingo asked mourners to do a language lesson, or provide their credit card number to be automatically signed up for Duolingo Max in Duo’s memory.
The post prompted a rush of comments, both curious about what the announcement was supposed to mean and humorously eulogizing the late mascot.
Even other companies got involved in the discussion, with brands like Halo, Netflix, Xbox, Merriam-Webster and more also paying their respects, mostly through joking references to their own products.
Duolingo has not yet explained what Duo’s apparent death will mean for the company going forward.