April Fools’ Day 2017: Our Roundup of All the Best Brand Hoaxes

April Fools’ Day falls on Saturday this year, which leaves brands caught between wanting to roll out their hoaxes on Friday, to reach the millions captive at their work computers, or waiting for the big day itself.

Here at AdFreak, we’re going to split the difference—cover all the good ones that come out on Friday, then update the list on Saturday and throughout the rest of the weekend.

Below, check out this year’s shenanigans. And email me and Tim with any good ones we missed.

Here’s a third batch of gags, added on the afternoon of April 1:

Airbnb

Say hello to the Humanless Host.

Chicago Cubs

The defending World Series champions faked a game on Twitter today. They actually open their season on Monday.

Doritos

The chip brand is now selling water. “You’re 60 percent water, make every drop of it bold.”

Dunkin’ Donuts

Remember the “Vanilla Nut Taps” joke from SNL’s Dunkin’ Donuts parody ad with Casey Affleck? Well, today only, Vanilla Nut Taps are available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the country. They are a blend of an Old Fashioned Glazed Cake Munchkins donut hole treat, vanilla buttercream filling, butternut topping and finished with vanilla icing drizzle.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Mmm, wine powder packs. Just add water!

Funeralbooker

The funeral-direction search service has the darkest gag of the year, pretending to offer the U.K.’s first home cremation service.

Google Play

Introducing Google Play for Pets, a new category of games, apps and training tools to keep your pet stimulated.

Hurricane Grill & Wings

The restaurant chain has pioneered blue wings, “featuring the bold sweet flavor of blue raspberry with a hot kick of spice”!

McDonald’s

McDonald’s has invented the Micro Mac. Rather similar to the nano-slider from White Castle. Great video, stay for the jingle.

Moleskine

Check out the notebook docking station with PaperTricity!

Papa John’s

Papa John’s pizza is offering the garlic sauce by the gallon. Get a Garlic Gallon for just $9.99.

Pop Tarts

Who needs the tasty interior of Pop Tarts when you can have Just the Crust? It’s better for you!

Rosetta Stone

The language learning company has decided the world would be better off if everyone just spoke the same language. Seems self-defeating, but OK!

Virgin Atlantic

The carrier may be losing its name and becoming part of Alaska Airlines soon, but it’s still innovating—this time with the Dreambird 1417, a new aircraft that flaps its wings like a bird.

New additions, morning of April 1: 

Google

Google Chrome has created Google Gnome, an Alexa-like sassy gnome.

Google Maps has revisited a prank it did in 2015 and lets you play Ms. Pac-Man on your maps.

Google Netherlands released Google Wind, which will use windmills to blow all the clouds away from the Netherlands.

Google VR is now available for all five senses.

BMW

The automaker launched dDrive dog basket, a dog bed that simulates the thrill of driving on the open road. Great video.

Burger King

BK South Africa created a Whopper cologne.

Bush’s Baked Beans

They’re are offering a new flavor: jelly beans.

Cheetos

Developed a new spray-tan product that makes you radiate with the orange glow of Cheetos.

Ely, Minnesota

The town is taking on Uber with Canoeber. It’s like Uber, but for canoes.

GrubHub

The food delivery company has hired a fleet of highly skilled extreme sport GrubHub delivery athletes, including free-running and parkour athletes, BMX riders and skateboarders, for its new offering, Delivery X—delivery without limits.

Continue Reading