Athletics Illustrated reader frustrated with April Fool’s joke writes scathing letter demanding apology

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On Wednesday, Athletics Illustrated received an email message titled, “Formal Complaint Regarding Irresponsible April Fools’ Day Joke Involving Eliud Kipchoge.”

The letter, below, with the name changed to protect the writer’s identity, demands an apology to be written from Athletics Illustrated to Eliud Kipchoge. The letter writer, who we will call “Karen,” claimed she was “deeply concerned,” about the content. The very first line of the story reads, “*April Fool’s joke.”

She wrote, “As a dedicated follower of sports news, I was shocked and dismayed to see such a misleading and inappropriate joke being played on your platform.” Perhaps, it would be wise if “Karen,” did not read Let’s Run or Pulse Sports News as well. Both publications “played,” the very same April Fool’s joke on the very same athlete.

She continued, “I urge you to take this matter seriously and issue a public apology to Eliud Kipchoge and your audience for this inappropriate joke. Furthermore, I request that you review your editorial policies to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

No urging required, spoiler alert, next year, we will report on his untimely death from a parachute accident off the Eiffel Tower.

Letter to the Editor

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent April Fools’ Day prank published by your sports media outlet, specifically, the article titled “Eliud Kipchoge announces he will not defend his Olympic title in Paris” on April 1st, 2024.

As a dedicated follower of sports news, I was shocked and dismayed to see such a misleading and inappropriate joke being played on your platform. Eliud Kipchoge is a highly respected athlete, known for his exceptional talent, hard work, and dedication to his sport. To falsely claim that he would not defend his Olympic title in Paris is not only disrespectful to Mr. Kipchoge but also to the entire sports community.

April Fools’ Day pranks are meant to be light-hearted and harmless, but this particular joke crossed the line by spreading false information about a significant event in the world of sports. Such irresponsible behavior not only undermines the credibility of your media outlet but also has the potential to cause confusion and distress among sports fans.

I urge you to take this matter seriously and issue a public apology to Eliud Kipchoge and your audience for this inappropriate joke. Furthermore, I request that you review your editorial policies to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope that appropriate action will be taken to rectify this situation and restore the integrity of your sports media outlet.

Sincerely,

Karen.

What is satire, Alex?

The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. The word “satire,” is a noun.

In the case of this particular piece of satire, we ventured into the realm of “absurd satire.” Typically saved for dark comedy or to elicit shock-laughter. Absurdism is the use of an intentionally ridiculous story. And the use of bizarre behaviour or character, much like Karen’s letter titled, “Formal Complaint Regarding Irresponsible April Fools’ Day Joke Involving Eliud Kipchoge.”

To wit, we close bidding adieu to at least one well-meaning helicopter reader named Karen — ta ta.