No one likes admitting they fell for a practical joke, especially on April Fools’ Day. Yet time and time again, people get snookered.
This morning, FN reported on the launch of Reebok’s latest fragrance, Swět, offering consumers the ability to smell like sweat anytime, anywhere. Who on earth would want to go to work or head for a night out smelling like they’d just come from a SoulCycle class?
Reebok capitalized on the fact that many readers wouldn’t question the announcement — and saw a spike in social media traffic and audience engagement on the “news.” The company produced a 15-second teaser video and “campaign images” to accompany the announcement and press release.
Did the ruse pay off outside the social world? Who knows. But it sure was entertaining.
Watch on FN
Yesterday, however, quite possibly one of the most amusing April Fools’ Day pranks ever came our way. Introducing “the selfie shoe” by Miz Mooz. Yes, you read that correctly: the selfie shoe.
Watch below to see what we’re talking about.
While we’re more than pleased to point out that we questioned the announcement’s authenticity from the start, we did find it particularly amusing to watch those who reported on it deal with the situation once the truth was revealed.
USA Today updated its coverage with a clarification to readers stating that they’d confirmed that the announcement was “an early April Fools’ Day joke sent as legitimate news,” while the Daily Mail removed its post altogether.
So for those of you who may have come across the post online and hoped for the shoes’ imminent release, we feel for you, but only slightly. Do yourself a favor and go buy a selfie stick.
