Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans published a tongue-in-cheek press release on Monday explaining that their mascot, Pierre the Pelican, would need reconstructive surgery after he sustained a broken beak in a game played with other mascots.

The release said that the injury happened when Pierre ran into the stanchion under the hoop.

For those of you who don’t speak cutesy marketing-speak, here’s the actual deal: Pierre scared the heck out of everyone, so they’re changing his face.

Pierre’s demented red beak and dead eyes have been terrifying NBA fans since he debuted this fall, so it’s no surprise that the Pelicans are taking the All-Star Game, which will be played in New Orleans, as a chance to rebrand the mascot and start fresh with a new, friendlier, less-nightmare-inducing face.

And while I guess it’s nice Pierre won’t be so scary anymore, a large part of me is going to miss that ghastly, winged monstrosity. We probably had another year or two of jokes left about Pierre’s face, and now it’s being taken away from us. Good night sweet horror bird, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.