It's the end of an era. Duolingo has said goodbye to their mascot, Duo the Owl, prompting confusion and mixed reactions from the internet.
In a statement shared on all social media platforms, Duolingo explained that Duo was dead, providing no further explanations. "It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead," they wrote, atop a black background with what seems like Duo's silhoutte on the top half.
"Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death and we are cooperating fully. Tbh, he probably died wailing for you to do your lesson, but what do we know."
Duo the Owl was the messenger for all of your pesky Duolingo notifications, a source of stress and commentary all over the internet. "We're 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."
"We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa's privacy at this time," they joked, a reference to Duo's love of Dua Lipa due to their similar sounding names.
Duolingo has changed all logos on their social media and the app, with it now depicting Duo's face with crosses over his eyes.
The internet reacts
While it may seem silly for those who aren't acquainted with the Duolingo internet phenomenon, Duo was a kind of internet celebrity, having an active social media presence, meeting various personalities and participating in TikTok trends.
Duo's most recent meme showed the owl referencing Kendrick Lamar's iconic Drake diss-track, which he performed at the Super Bowl over the weekend.
Various companies and celebrities have left comments on Duo's eulogy post. "MY SHAYLAAAAAAA," wrote the OriginalFunko account.
"NO. Duo was a hero for owls everywhere who deserve love and respect. We're joining in on this investigation ASAP," wrote PETA, the animal rights organization.
"WTF," wrote Joe Jonas.
What does this mean for Duolingo? We have no clue. Perhaps they're introducing a new mascot or Duo is waiting for a comeback, making a revamped introduction of himself, perhaps with a different design or a new shade of green in his hair. We'll have to wait and see.