Elon Musk has led this year’s April Fool pranks, telling his 179.5million followers on X (formerly Twitter, owned by him) that he’s off to a new job – at Disney.
The Tesla chief wrote:
“Excited to join @Disney as their Chief DEI Officer. Can’t wait to work with Bob Iger & Kathleen Kennedy to make their content MORE woke!
“Even the linguini.”
Others to join in the April Fool frivolity included a Ricky Gervais Clips account (@GervaisClips) on X, who posted that Gervais’s alter ego David Brent – the character he played in his breakthrough hit sitcom The Office – will be returning to our screens. It said:
“Breaking news: Brent is Back! It has just been announced that after eight years, David Brent will be returning for a new movie and album, titled ‘David Brent: Life on the Road to Vegas’.
“Cumin summer 2024.”
Stranger things have happened.
@DMovies_org posted:
“An unrecognisable Penelope Cruz and an animalistic Brian Cox star in what’s probably Ken Loach’s most unabashedly romantic film ever! In cinemas on Friday.”
Traditional UK media got into the spirit of the day too. The Telegraph newspaper reported that Germany hope an obscure law will stop England football captain Harry Kane playing for his home nation – rather niche, but appreciated by the readers judging by the comments under the piece.
And Saga Magazine (featuring holidays for elder citizens) posted an ad for forthcoming cruises, offering water ski sessions, breakdancing lessons and bungee jumps off the bridge for passengers.
Inevitably, many journalists also took to social media saying, with the current state of the world, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between April Fool’s stories and genuine articles.