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Rick Astley Calls Rickroll 'Hilarious,' 'Bizarre'; Plans Arena Tour, But Can He Still Dance?
So what DOES Rick Astley think of his accidental role as star of the viral Internet prank that keeps on never giving up?
Despite rumors of a possible Super Bowl halftime appearance and the pining of journalists and geeks around the world, the Rick behind the Rickroll has remained mum. Or perhaps nobody bothered to call his management.
But in a breakout week for the Rickroll that included a nod from the Gray Lady, David Sarno of the LA Times' Web Scout blog pulled it off: an exclusive, 900-word conversation with the always-say-never, 42-year-old British pop singer.
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"It's a bit spooky, innit?" Astley said of the phenomenon of clicking on a link only to unexpectedly launching the video of a "pretty naff" song from 1987. “But that’s what brilliant about the Internet,” he added, before admitting that he found the Scientology Rickroll to be "hilarious."
Props to Sarno for writing the definitive breakdown of the Rickroll even if we're still afraid to click most of the links in his blog post. Check it out -- it's complete with audio highlights of his conversation with Astley.
Photo via Rick Astley's official Web site.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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