Duolingo embraces Heated Rivalry craze

“Russian learned. Rivalry ruined,” Duolingo wrote on the Heated Rivalry TikTok video

Duolingo Deutschland is leaning into pop culture in a big way, tapping into the viral success of the hit hockey romance Heated Rivalry with its latest TikTok video. The short clip features two Duolingo mascots kissing, with one character sporting a Ilya Rozanov Boston jersey and the other a Shane Hollander Montreal jersey, humorously nodding to the show’s iconic team-based love story.

Text on the video reads, “Russian learned. Rivalry ruined,” adding a tongue-in-cheek twist to the mashup of language learning and romantic drama. The TikTok caption continues the playful tone: “Maybe I could teach you Russian someday, but only useful phrases 😏 (iykyk),” hinting at the cheeky side of Duolingo’s social media presence.

@duolingodeutschland

Maybe I could teach you Russian someday, but only useful phrases 😏 (iykyk) #heatedrivalry #hockey #shanehollander #ilyarozanov #hollanov

♬ and theyre both boys - ghostie

The clip quickly caught the attention of fans of both Duolingo and Heated Rivalry, with viewers praising the platform for its clever pop culture references and humorous take on learning Russian. Duolingo’s mascot, Duo the green owl, has become a viral sensation in its own right, often appearing in memes, trends, and culturally relevant content that resonates with younger audiences on TikTok.

By blending language education with trending shows and internet humor, Duolingo continues to keep learning fun and culturally relevant. Fans can expect more playful, pop-culture-inspired content as the brand engages with viral moments across social media.