Duolingo has stunned the internet with a shocking announcement: its beloved green owl, Duo, is no more. Yes, you read that right—the language-learning app has declared its iconic mascot “dead" in a dramatic social media post.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Duolingo wrote, “It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead." The company further added, “Authorities are currently investigating his death, and we are cooperating fully." Playfully hinting at Duo’s relentless lesson reminders, they quipped, “TBH, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know?"

The statement continued with a tongue-in-cheek request: “We’re aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comment section."

In a final humorous twist, Duolingo encouraged users to honour Duo’s memory by signing up for its premium service. “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." However, a company spokesperson later clarified that this was purely a joke and urged users not to share their payment details.

Duolingo ended its statement with an unexpected request: “We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time." While this might seem random, those who follow the app’s social media know it is an ongoing joke. Duolingo has often posted about its admiration for the singer sharing funny messages and videos in an attempt to get her attention.

As expected, social media erupted with memes and speculations with brands also joining in to offer their “condolences." Take a look here:

One user jokingly wrote, “Bro, spent his last days begging me to learn Frenc and I ignored him. I will never recover from this."

Social media management platform, Hootsuite, commented, “From owl to owl, we offer our sincere condolences."

Netflix took things to the next level. The streaming giant posted a video of Duo being eliminated from Squid Game with the caption, “sending my condolences fr (for real)."

Duolingo later posted a cryptic follow-up: “We’re currently investigating Jimmy." No further details were provided, leaving the internet to speculate who exactly is Jimmy and what he has to do with Duo’s disappearance.

While Duolingo humorously claims Duo was born in 1000 BC, the mascot made his debut in 2011 when the app first launched.