5 April Fools' Pranks That Went Horribly Wrong

Ahh, April 1st, a pranksters' paradise. It’s the one day of the year where jokes are welcomed and trust issues rise. But while most April Fools’ pranks result in harmless laughs, some go terribly wrong.

From fake murder confessions to job-losing gags, these five pranks prove that sometimes, the joke isn’t worth the punchline.

1. Google’s Mic Drop (2016)

Tech giant Google is known for its creative and quirky April Fools’ pranks, but in 2016, they took it a step too far. They introduced a “Mic Drop” feature in Gmail that inserted a GIF of a Minion from Despicable Me dropping a microphone—and then prevented recipients from replying.

What seemed like a lighthearted joke led to serious misunderstandings. Users unknowingly "mic-dropped" their bosses, clients, and even grieving family members. The backlash was swift, and Google had to issue an apology, admitting that the prank had caused "more headaches than laughs."

2. A Murder Confession That Wasn’t (2013)

Susan Tammy Hudson of Kingsport, Tennessee, thought she was being funny when she called her sister on April 1st and declared, “I shot my husband. I’m cleaning up the mess—let’s go bury him in Blackwater.”

Unfortunately, her sister didn’t find it amusing and alerted the authorities. Police quickly swarmed Hudson’s home, only to find her husband alive and well. While no charges were filed, this prank highlighted a key lesson: Maybe don’t joke about murder?

3. The Fake Astrologer Death Announcement (1708)

Long before viral hoaxes were a thing, Jonathan Swift—the author of Gulliver’s Travels —pulled off an elaborate April Fools’ prank under the pseudonym "Isaac Bickerstaff." He predicted that famous astrologer John Partridge would die on March 29. On March 30, an anonymous letter confirmed Partridge’s "death." By April 1st, someone even knocked on his door to arrange his funeral!

Though Partridge was very much alive, the hoax stuck, and he spent years convincing people he wasn’t a ghost. Ironically, he died seven years later—never knowing who Isaac Bickerstaff really was.

4. A Radio Prank That Caused Panic (2002)

Two Kansas City radio DJs thought it would be hilarious to warn listeners that the local water supply had been contaminated with "dihydrogen monoxide" (DHMO).

While the name sounds terrifying, DHMO is just plain old H2O—water. Unfortunately, hundreds of panicked citizens flooded the police department with calls. Officials weren’t amused and labeled the prank as "irresponsible." A similar prank in Florida over a decade later got two DJs taken off the air and nearly hit with felony charges.

5. The Taco Liberty Bell (1996)

In 1996, Taco Bell took out full-page ads claiming they had purchased the Liberty Bell and renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell." Outraged citizens flooded the National Park Service with calls—until Taco Bell revealed it was an April Fools' prank.

The Takeaway: Think Before You Prank

April Fools’ Day is all fun and games—until someone ends up in police custody, fired, or struggling to prove they’re not actually dead.

The best pranks are lighthearted and leave everyone laughing, not calling 911. So before you go full trickster mode, remember: A good joke doesn’t need a rescue team!

Something That's No Joke

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