Duolingo’s Playful Take on Ashton Hall’s Viral Morning Routine
On March 26, 2025, Duolingo delighted its audience by reimagining fitness influencer Ashton Hall’s popular morning regimen in a post on X. The highlight of the video featured the iconic Duolingo Owl, energetically mimicking Hall’s intricate morning routine that emphasizes productivity, exercise, and a structured diet.
Controversy and Confusion Surrounding the Owl
This playful homage comes on the heels of an earlier dramatic announcement from Duolingo, marking the mascot’s “death”on February 11, 2025. This peculiar twist was later revealed to be a ruse, as confirmed by the brand’s Instagram post stating that Duo was merely “faking”his demise.
As the new fitness video circulated online, reactions ranged from confusion among users who believed the Owl was deceased to praise for Duolingo’s clever marketing strategy. Some users, however, criticized the brand’s efforts to remain relevant in a competitive landscape.
“I got called a slanderer when I said this b*tch was the pick me of all pick me brand accounts,” wrote one user.
User Reactions: Mixed Reviews
Reflecting on the announcement of the mascot’s ‘death,’ social media users joked about the Owl’s transformation into a “bodybuilder.”Commentary varied, with one user labeling Duolingo an “unserious brand”for its antics.
“I thought this b*tch died,” shared another user.
“Wait hold up a second I thought Duolingo was killed, now he is back as a steroid-using bodybuilder?” one confused user asked.
“Duolingo really trying to speedrun being the most unserious brand of all time,” another criticized.
Despite the criticisms, some users found humor in the situation, praising the marketing team’s creativity. One commented, “Whoever is in charge of Duolingo’s social media needs a raise.”
“The type of content we needed today,” wrote another delighted user.
“Duolingo wildin’ again, can’t take em’ seriously,” joked another commenter.
Embracing Trends: Ashton Hall’s Ice Water Challenge
Recently, Duolingo’s video adaptation made a splash by featuring the popular trend of dunking one’s face in ice-cold water, a ritual depicted by Ashton Hall in his viral routine on March 24. This trend, initially popularized in his video from February 7 titled “Day 191 of the morning routine that changed my life,”has gained traction among wellness enthusiasts.
In Hall’s routine, which spans from 3:50 AM to 9:30 AM, he showcases a series of disciplined activities, starting with a dramatic tape removal from his lips, followed by hydration, exercise, and cold water immersion. The detailed regimen also includes journaling, phone time, and a structured gym schedule.
Hall intricately combines self-care with rigor, highlighting the significance of balancing physical and mental health. After his workout session, which concludes around 7:30 AM, Hall indulges in swimming and finishes his morning by preparing for the day with a formal dress code.
Duolingo Joins the Trend
On March 26, as the trend gained momentum, Duolingo humorously captured the essence of Hall’s routine in their X post. This comes after a perplexing period where the brand’s declaration of Duo the Owl’s ‘death’ had left followers scratching their heads.
On February 11, the company announced:
“It is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Duo, formally known as The Duolingo Owl, is dead.”
Just two weeks later, a playful twist in their Instagram narrative stated that their beloved mascot had merely faked his death.
Duolingo is not alone in tapping into this viral trend. Influencer MrBeast also took part on March 24, sharing amusing advice from his “personal assistant”about cold-water immersing and banana peels.