April Fools’ Day is a marketing wildcard. When it works, a cheeky campaign can earn millions of impressions and even go viral for the right reasons. But when it goes wrong — it really goes wrong.
Here’s our round-up of April Fools’ Day marketing campaigns that completely missed the mark. From tone-deaf tweets to overly convincing rebrands, these are the pranks that left brands scrambling for a damage control plan instead of press coverage.
Best April Fools’
- Tesla’s ‘Bankruptcy’ Announcement (2018)
On 1 April 2018, Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla had gone “so bankrupt, you can’t believe it” and shared a photo of himself passed out against a Tesla with a sign reading “bankwupt”. The problem? Tesla was already under intense scrutiny over missed targets and mounting debt — and shareholders didn’t find it funny. The stock dipped, and the joke landed poorly with investors.
Lesson: When you’re already in crisis, maybe don’t make jokes about collapse.
Source: The Guardian – Elon Musk’s Painful 2018
2. Burger King’s Left-Handed Whopper (1998)
Burger King took out a full-page ad in USA Today introducing the “Left-Handed Whopper”, claiming all the condiments were rotated 180° for left-handed customers. Thousands visited outlets to try it — some even requested a “right-handed” version. While it made headlines, it also confused customers and staff, showing how seriously people can take marketing at face value.
Lesson: Even the most obviously silly stunts can cause operational chaos.
Source: Time – Top 10 April Fools’ Pranks
3. Google’s Gmail Mic Drop (2016)
Google launched a new button in Gmail on April Fools’ Day that let users “mic drop” conversations by sending a Minion GIF and then muting replies. Unfortunately, the button was placed right next to the usual “Send” button. Users accidentally sent mic drops in professional contexts — one reportedly lost a job opportunity.
Lesson: Don’t interfere with the tools people use for serious communication.
Source: The Verge – Google pulls Gmail ‘Mic Drop’ prank
4. Volkswagen’s ‘Voltswagen’ Rebrand (2021)
Volkswagen claimed it was changing its name in the US to “Voltswagen” to reflect its electric vehicle ambitions. The company issued a press release ahead of April Fools’ Day — and major media outlets reported it as real news. Days later, it was revealed as a stunt. The backlash from press and consumers was swift, with accusations of deliberately misleading the public.
Lesson: If the media falls for your joke, you might be the one who looks foolish.
Source: CNBC – Volkswagen’s April Fools’ joke
5. Lipton’s Discontinuation Prank (2025)
In March 2025, Lipton announced on Instagram that its popular Peach Iced Tea was being discontinued. Fans went into full meltdown mode — flooding comments and DMs with outrage. The next day, Lipton revealed it was an early April Fools’ Day joke. While the product remained, the backlash was real: many accused the brand of emotional manipulation.
Lesson: If you have a beloved hero product, don’t toy with your fans.
Source: New York Post – Lipton fans fume over bizarre prank
6. Taco Bell’s ‘Taco Liberty Bell’ (1996)
Taco Bell announced it had bought the Liberty Bell — renaming it the “Taco Liberty Bell” — and was donating it to help reduce the US national debt. The prank caused a stir, with outraged citizens calling the National Park Service. Despite eventually revealing it was a hoax, the backlash was enough to make even fast food feel a little too political.
Lesson: National monuments and marketing don’t mix.
Source: Museum of Hoaxes – Taco Liberty Bell
7. Duolingo’s ‘Push’ – The Owl Comes to Life (2019)
In 2019, Duolingo released a video promoting “Duolingo Push” — a physical, human-sized Duo owl that would follow you around and shout reminders to study your language lessons. The concept was so absurd and well-produced that many believed it was real. Some users expressed genuine unease about being “stalked” by an app in real life.
Lesson: If your brand mascot already freaks people out, maybe don’t amplify it.
Source: Yahoo – Duolingo’s April Fools’ Day prank is way too real