Pranks Misfire: Infamous April Fools' gags that went too far

Pranks, tricks, and practical jokes are common on April Fools’ Day, celebrated annually on April 1.

From pregnancy scares to fake death announcements, April Fools’ is a time for people to enjoy humorous pranks with friends, family, and co-workers.

Big corporations such as Google, Oppo, Tesla, and Volkswagen have all joined in the mischief, revealing some imaginative pranks broadcasted on television, radio, and social media.

The pranks are all in good fun and showcase their creative spirit, allowing brands to engage their customers in light-hearted fun.

However, over the years, some pranks have gone down in history as the worst April Fools’ pranks.

The infamous Volkswagen prank in 2021 is one of the most notable April Fools’ pranks that backfired.

The German-owned automobile company had announced plans to change the name of their American division to ‘Voltswagen’ as a commitment to electric vehicles.

This joke was taken seriously by many. The brand eventually cancelled the campaign and apologized for it.  

Google has been known for its notable April Fools’ pranks. The Google Gmail ‘mic drop’ feature prank introduced in 2016 seemed harmless, but it received quite the backlash, and Google disabled the feature.

The feature allowed one to send a reply to an email along with an animated image of a Minion dropping a microphone, essentially allowing you to have the final word. This would archive the entire text chain hence you would not see the responses.

Another legendary prank that flopped was Elon Musk’s claim that his company, Tesla had gone bankrupt.

In a post on X in 2018, Musk joked that despite their efforts to raise funds, Tesla had gone completely bankrupt.

While these jokes are done in fun, they could go wrong and have negative implications on corporations’ brands.

In 2019, Microsoft issued an internal memo asking workers to refrain from participating in practical jokes and annoying hoaxes.

"Considering the headwinds the tech industry is facing today, I'm asking all teams at Microsoft to not do any public-facing April Fools' Day stunts," the corporation's Marketing Chief Chris Capossela told staff members. 

While April Fools’ is a time for humor, brands must consider the potential impact of their jokes.

Another notable prank is one by journalist Larry Madowo, who announced that he has left his job at CNN and will be joining BBC. 

Known to brush shoulders publicly, X owner Elon Musk also made an April Fools' prank, saying he has joined Disney. 

"Excited to join @Disney as their Chief DEI Officer. Can’t wait to work with Bob Iger & Kathleen Kennedy to make their content MORE woke! Even the linguini," Musk posted on X.