Weak jokes and lame marketing ploys abounded Monday as celebrities and corporations celebrated April Fools' Day on social media.
The world's most popular YouTuber, MrBeast - real name Jimmy Donaldson - tried to prank his nearly 250 million subscribers with a post on X, formerly Twitter, that said he was abandoning the video-sharing platform:
I’m quitting YouTube
— MrBeast (@MrBeast) April 1, 2024
Billionaire Elon Musk - who sparked a sell-off of Tesla shares on April 1, 2018, by pretending his electric vehicle company was "completely and totally bankrupt" - this year took a right-wing jab at the Walt Disney Co.'s efforts to increase corporate diversity, equity and inclusion:
Excited to join @Disney as their Chief DEI Officer.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2024
Can’t wait to work with Bob Iger & Kathleen Kennedy to make their content MORE woke!
Even the linguini.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy even attempted to make light of his state's longstanding reputation for agressive motorists by attacking its neighbor to the west:
BREAKING: Today I'm calling upon the Legislature to protect New Jerseyans from the biggest menace on the roads: Pennsylvania drivers.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 1, 2024
All proceeds from the “Passing Lane Protection Act” will help pay for driving lessons across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/bXFzdQKcEr
New York City's famed Empire State Building teased the opening of a new, sky-high restaurant and included a link to the "inaugural menu," which turned out to be the web page for buying visitor tickets that top out at $79 each - plus a $5 "booking fee":
BREAKING: We're excited to announce the launch of the World's Highest Rainforest Cafe right here at the Empire State Building
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 1, 2024
Check out our inaugural menu here: https://t.co/jDm0g3t7ca pic.twitter.com/QBPmQaJay9
Krispy Kreme followed in the same vein, claiming it was now willing to slather sugary glaze on anything customers brought in but at least didn't make anyone click a link to learn about its $4.01 promotional price for a dozen glazed donuts.
Nabisco also used its Oreo cookie account to claim it would unveil "limited edition" packages containing either just chocolate wafers or creme filling later this month.
Cellucor posted photos of its C4 energy drink and pre-workout powder in the "classic combo" flavor of chicken and rice.
7-Eleven likewise touted the introduction of hot-dog flavored seltzer - while also updating a Wednesday news release to make clear the cans pictured were part of a joke.
