Not only individuals come up with pranks to “trap” their friends on April Fool’s Day. Even businesses and media agencies sometimes get a humorous streak, teasing customers with some “outrageous pranks that are hard to resist.”
The Most Outrageous Pranks on April Fool’s Day
Google Produces Beverages
Google is known for creating April Fool’s pranks for its customers. One of the most outrageous pranks occurred in 2005. On April 1st of that year, Google announced it was venturing into the beverage industry, introducing a new product called Google Gulp. According to the company’s advertisement, this drink would enhance intelligence and was healthy due to its low-carb content.
Google’s “classic” April Fool’s prank.
In addition to this prank, Google tricked many customers with announcements of special products such as Google Romance matchmaking services and the Gmail Custom Time feature, which allowed users to send emails back in time. One year, the company even claimed to have found a treasure from a pirate island.
Due to its frequent pranks on April Fool’s Day, when Google made a genuine announcement about offering 1GB of free storage for Gmail users, most customers didn’t believe it because the news was released on April 1st.
Pi is Simplified
Many students in Alabama (USA) celebrated joyfully until they were embarrassed to realize they had been fooled regarding the redefinition of Pi in mathematics. On April 1, 1998, they received news that lawmakers in Alabama had decided to round the sacred number Pi from 3.14159… down to 3 for simplicity.
This “good news” quickly spread, making students extremely happy. But then the truth was revealed: it was merely a hoax by an ordinary man named Mark Boslough. In fact, in 1897, the Indian legislative body proposed changing Pi to 3.2 for simplicity, but it was not accepted.
Pasta Grows on Trees
Pasta growing on trees is an April Fool’s prank that made many people laugh.
On April 1, 1997, the BBC’s program Panorama reported that Swiss farmers had a bumper spaghetti harvest thanks to favorable weather. The news included footage of Swiss farmers carefully pulling spaghetti strands from trees. Many viewers in the UK were amazed, not believing that science had advanced to the point of creating such a miraculous plant.
Dismantling the Eiffel Tower
On April 1, 1986, Le Parisien – France’s “national” newspaper – published on its front page that the French government had decided to dismantle the Eiffel Tower, shocking the public until they realized it was an April Fool’s prank.
Burger King’s Left-Handed Burger
On April 1, 1998, Burger King launched a campaign promoting a new product – a hamburger for left-handed people. According to the advertisement, this burger had the same ingredients as the regular product but was arranged 180 degrees backward to accommodate left-handed customers.
Needless to say, left-handed individuals were thrilled and touched to see their needs acknowledged, only to be disappointed when Burger King clarified that it was just an April Fool’s joke.
Transforming Big Ben into a Digital Clock
On April Fool’s Day in 1980, the BBC reported that Big Ben – the symbol of the UK capital – would be renovated, and the Big Ben clock would be converted into a digital clock to suit modern times. Contrary to its intention to entertain the public, the BBC had to apologize after facing a storm of criticism for its silly joke.
The White Lion Hoax in London
In 1860, London residents received an invitation: “The Tower of London cordially invites everyone to attend the annual white lion bathing ceremony, taking place on April 1, 1860. Guests are welcomed only at the White Gate.”
Invitation to the white lion bathing ceremony.
On the afternoon of April 1 that year, a crowd gathered outside the Tower of London, only to be disappointed to learn that there were no lions there, let alone a white lion.
Horses Also Need Brake Lights
On April Fool’s Day in 1961, the newspaper La Notte (Italy) reported that the city government of Milan had just passed a law requiring residents to equip their horses with brake lights and signal lights when moving on the streets. At that time, horses were a common mode of transportation in Milan, so this fake news caused quite a stir until people realized they had been fooled.
Discovery of Life on the Moon
This April Fool’s prank was the work of the New York Sun in 1835. The newspaper published a lengthy article signed by the famous astronomer John Herschel, stating that his research team had discovered life on the Moon. The article described in detail herds of wild cattle wandering on the plains and one-horned blue horses living on the hills. The astronomer’s reputation led most readers to believe and get excited about this “great discovery.”
Thomas Edison Invents Food Generator
The newspaper The Daily Graphic (USA) in 1878 reported that scientist Thomas Edison had invented a machine that could produce food and beverages such as meat, vegetables, wine, or cookies from soil, water, and air. The article vividly described how the machine worked and claimed it would help solve world hunger. However, Thomas Edison was not angry but merely sent a letter to the editorial office with a few words: “That’s spectacular.” In reality, right under the article, there was a note stating that this was just a joke, but many readers, being lazy and not reading to the end, sent orders to Edison.
