That Random HBO Max ‘Integration Test’ Email? Blame The Intern

HBO Max subscribers were puzzled yesterday by a mysterious email that landed in their inboxes with the subject “Integration Test Email #1.” The message, which arrived unprompted last night, included just one line, which read, “This template is used by integration tests only.”

While the email was pretty clearly a mistake, that didn’t stop Twitter from jumping on the opportunity for a joke, and the topic “Integration Test Email” was trending within hours.

Some subscribers joked the message was some especially sneaky promo for a new HBO Max series. One wrote, “I hope Integration Test Email gets renewed for a second season,” while another added, “Lol if it turns out the HBO Max email goof is a stunt for a new show called Integration Test Email then congrats to the marketing team.”

And while the email caused a stir online last night, not every HBO Max subscriber was included in what quickly became the internet’s new favorite joke. As if the email wasn’t strange enough, it appeared to only go out to some, not all, subscribers. One Twitter user wrote, “@hbomax Where is my Integration test email?!?! #disappointed.” Another tweeted, “There are two types of people. Those who got the HBO Max integration test email, and mooches.”

And of course, plenty of people were cracking jokes about who, exactly, was responsible for the viral fail, with most users suspecting an unlucky intern. “Prayers up for the HBO Max intern who just sent an “integration test” email to 50 million people,” one wrote. Another added, “Really #HBOMax, Your integration test email worked. Poor HBO intern.”

But despite all the jokes, HBO Max admitted it actually was an intern who made the unfortunate mistake. “We mistakenly sent out an empty test email to a portion of our HBO Max mailing list this evening. We apologize for the inconvenience, and as the jokes pile in, yes, it was the intern. No, really. And we’re helping them through it. ❤️,” they tweeted last night.

After the message went out, support for the intern poured in, with subscribers even congratulating them on a successful, if unintentional, viral marketing stunt. “Dear Intern, By sending out Integration Test Email #1 (It passed btw) might be the best marketing that @hbomax has ever done. Congratulations! Get yourself a beer, or two,” one wrote.