Hot topics close

Dua Lipa mourns the mysterious 'death' of Duo the Owl, the ...

Dua Lipa mourns the mysterious death of Duo the Owl the
Duo, the green cartoon owl mascot for language learning app Duolingo, has died, and singer Dua Lipa is grieving.
CNN  — 

Duo, the green cartoon owl mascot for language learning app Duolingo, has died, and singer Dua Lipa is grieving.

The brand announced Duo’s passing on Tuesday, writing in a cheeky statement on their official X page that “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 smartphone-based language-learning app that offers more than 100 courses covering over 40 languages in bitesize sessions. It became hugely popular during the pandemic, and when you miss a lesson, the app famously sends silly or teasing messages to urge you to keep learning.

“We’re aware he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments,” the statement continued.

In a nod to Lipa, Duolingo’s statement concluded by saying, “We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time.”

“Til’ death duo part,” Lipa wrote on X Wednesday, replying to Duolingo’s statement.

The Duolingo logo appears on a smartphone screen in this 2025 illustration photo.

Beyond the fact that the “Levitating” singer and Duo share very similar names, there’s more “lore” that binds them together.

“Over the years, we’ve built brand lore around Duo being in love with her (going so far as to propose outside her concert at Madison Square Garden), and we’re just as shocked (and honored) as anyone that she’s acknowledged his tragic fate,” a representative for Duolingo shared in a statement.

According to the representative, Lipa’s reaction on X was organic and “isn’t part of a paid brand partnership—just the natural evolution of Duo’s long-standing, unrequited love for her.”

As for what happened to Duo, well, it seems as though the owl got hit by a Cybertruck but Duolingo still lives on.

“Duo might be dead, but our brand is very much alive (and still as unhinged as ever),” the representative told CNN.

Similar news
News Archive
  • Raksha Bandhan 2019
    Raksha Bandhan 2019
    Raksha Bandhan 2019: Date, time and significance of Rakhi Festival
    15 Aug 2019
    4
  • Tiger snake
    Tiger snake
    Video: Deadly Tiger Snake Discovered Under Child's Toy In ...
    28 Dec 2024
    3
  • Scott Evans
    Scott Evans
    Chris Evans and brother Scott tell embarrassing childhood secrets on ‘The Tonight Show’
    5 Nov 2019
    4
  • Cars
    Cars
    Why Mini is one of the few brands ahead on electric cars in Australia - and what to expect next
    1 Oct 2022
    1
  • Human evolution
    Human evolution
    Scanning system in sperm may control rate of human evolution
    24 Jan 2020
    2
This week's most popular news