Google has “dropped the mic” on its April Fools’ Day Gmail joke after angering many of its email service users.
Google added an extra “send” button, which allowed Gmail'ers to instantaneously end an email conversation; hence term “dropping the mic”—but the catch? It ends the conversation (though, it was reported that you can still view the incoming replies in the “All Mail” folder, just not in the conversation thread).
In Google’s blog post, they made light of the usage of the funny mic-drop button; they even integrated a GIF of a Minion dropping the mic when the button is clicked.
But many Gmail users didn’t get to see the funny side of it, as was expressed in the Google ‘Help’ Forum. In fact, most users showed dissatisfaction—or outright anger—at the attempted April Fools’ Day joke:
“So I just lost my job because of this ’mic drop' shenanigan. Haha. Nothing wrong with a prank, until it interferes with business,” one Gmail user said.
A post titled “Will Google give me a job?” read: “Thanks to Mic Drop I just lost my job. I am a writer and had a deadline to meet. I sent my articles to my boss and never heard back from her.”
Another said: “Imagine the horror with which I awoke from this 4-hour reverie when I realized I had mistakenly sent this email with your execrable ‘Mic Drop’ feature. What was intended to be a message of warmth and support now reads like a sudden and brutal abdication of parental responsibility.”
“PLEASE HELP!!!! How to disable Mic Drop button????? My girlfriend broke up with me!!!” One user wrote.
Another: “This mic drop is perhaps the most stupid thing you could possibly come up with. I have been interviewing with this company for 3 months now and mistakenly sent the email directly to guess who? The HR! Why would you do that? I so want this job; was due to start on Monday!”
By noon, Google released an update saying the button had been removed, after facing heat from its users.
Better luck next year, Google.
