Razer's Tan Min-Liang quitting as CEO? And other announcements that probably April Fool-ed you

Razer's Tan Min-Liang quitting as CEO? And other announcements that probably April Fool-ed you
Tan Min-Liang is taking applications for the next Razer CEO on April 1.
PHOTO: Facebook/ Min-Liang Tan

[UPDATE April 2] Seems like Tan Min-Liang's joke received a little more concern than he bargained for.

In a follow-up post on Facebook, the Razer CEO clarified that his earlier post was, indeed, an April Fool's prank and that he has no plans to resign anytime soon.

"I guess it wasn't evident that the battle royale style I had suggested to pick the next Razer CEO was a joke or that there are literally people out there who think I would parachute 100 people on a deserted island to have them fight to the death as part of succession planning," he wrote.

"Now that I say it out loud like that - maybe it IS a good idea."

We're not so sure... but if it happens, you'll read about it on AsiaOne.


A moment of silence for all the fallen soldiers who fell for an April Fool's joke today.

The internet can be a cold space -- especially on a day like this, when hopes are raised, only to be savagely dashed.

Don't worry fam… we're here to expose them.

Here are this year's best-played April Fool's pranks that got us leaping in excitement… and crashing in disappointment.

BE THE NEXT RAZER CEO?

Forbes-approved billionaire and avid gamer Tan Min-Liang, better known as the CEO of gaming firm Razer, announced that he is seeking a replacement.

In a Facebook post, the Singaporean entrepreneur released his "succession plan", citing his best accomplishments.

These include reinventing the gaming laptop industry, kick-starting the gaming phone category and a steadfast refusal to create the gaming kitchen appliance industry.

Take note that he's taking applications on April Fool's day, and his successor must be prepared to "sign personal injury waivers, jump off planes into a deserted island, and be ready to fight all other applicants to the death".

He has not clarified that his post was an April Fool's prank though. So if it turns out to be real, the joke's on us.

MALA FISH SKIN CONDOMS, BUBBLE TEA BREAD AND LAKSA SOY MILK

Looking to spice up your kitchen… or bedroom?

Brands are looking to capitalise on all of Singapore's latest food trends and, voila, someone at Durex came up with the mala-flavoured fish skin condom.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/durexsingapore/photos/a.239732329404035/2315194211857826/[/embed]

Thankfully the idea is still in conception with no actual product -- the risque ad is a collaboration effort with the folks at The Golden Duck Co, a homegrown brand best known for their salted egg yolk potato chips.

Other brands that are using April Fool's to get away with jumping on the trendy food bandwagon include Sunshine Bakeries with the bubble milk tea white bread and Nutrisoy with their laksa-flavoured soy milk.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/SunshineBakeries/photos/a.119066958284215/984228748434694/[/embed]

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/nutrisoysingapore/photos/a.378175952330331/1291474151000502/[/embed]

Err… no thanks.

OTHER THINGS THE HEART WANTS… BUT WON'T GET

Food is not the only thing they're dangling in front of us this 1st of April with brands out to toy with our hearts.

In what's becoming an annual affair, Ngee Ann Polytechnic announced the building of an underground tunnel to link the school with Beauty World MRT station.

But quick-witted students were not to be fooled.

After all, how could they forget previous years' attempts such as 2017's sleeping pods in the atrium and 2018's "No Air Con Monday"?

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/ngeeannpoly/photos/a.10151911984469798/10156223029919798/[/embed]

If you're sick of pranks like these, what about a getaway to Laerton Island? A magical place off the west coast of Tasmania?

[embed]https://twitter.com/JetstarAirways/status/1112463330831032320[/embed]

Too bad it doesn't exist.

[embed]https://twitter.com/JetstarAirways/status/1112520070087864320[/embed]

And neither does Fyre Festival 2.0, for all those who got excited about a possible follow-up to 2017's greatest failed party that never happened.

In fact, it failed so hard that a Netflix film with the same title was commissioned.

FAKE NEWS

Even news media joined in on the April Fool's fun.

Sociopolitical website The Independent ran a story that the Singapore government is recruiting more Filipinos due to a drop in Singaporeans' English language skills.

If you managed to read the article in its entirety, you wasted a part of your life. For everyone else who decided TL;DR, congrats.

The bottom writes that the entire report is a fluke and Singaporeans' English skills remain among the highest in Asia.

Malaysian outlet The Star also published an article that alleges 90 per cent of Malaysians do not read beyond the headline.

Scroll down and you'll find a cheeky two-liner that reads: "But you are not one of them, oh Fabulous Day! Thank you for restoring our faith, but to the rest, Happy April Fool's Day :) ."

On a more serious note, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last Friday (March 29) that a new law requiring online news websites to publish corrections on fake news or even remove them has been proposed.

If this is passed, next year's brands would have to try harder if they want to rick-roll us.

joeylee@asiaone.com

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