Popular forum prank started in 2007. Someone will post a link to a Rick Astley video from the 1980s (Astley is a gay-looking pop singer from the 80s), but disguise it as a link to something else. Victims of the prank are then said to have been "rickrolled".
prankster:
sup all, there's a new Harry Potter trailer! Check it out!
Opening a youtubelink that is supposed to be something of great interest to a forum community,only to end up to the 80s Rick Astley hit "Never gonna give you up".
Forum thread title"starcraft universe mmo video leak"
Post 1 from the OP"OMG a video leaked from blizz hq,youtubelink here"
Hiting the link gets you Rickrolled.
To be decieved into clicking a youtube link on an internet message board that leads to a 'Rick Astley - Never gonna give you up' video, under the pretense of it being something else. Has its origins in 4chan and World of Warcraft boards.
"Hmm 'click here for more tentacle hentai', lets see *click*"
"WE'RE NO STRANGERS TO LOVE, YOU KNOW THE RULES AND SO DO I....."
When one clicks on a link to a video expecting some fascinating and timely video related directly to the conversation at hand only to discover it is a link to the music video "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.
Bill said he posted a link to gameplay footage from the new StarCraft game, but instead he rickrolled me!