2008 / Meme / Internet prank
Rickroll
The link was never what it promised to be.
The original is off-site. HAHrchives preserves the story and a route back to it.
What happened
A promising link redirected to Astley’s music video. The prank worked because the setup was minimal and the reveal was instantly recognizable.
Where it came from
Rickrolling developed from a bait-and-switch prank format on imageboards and forums before converging on Rick Astley’s 1987 video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Why it mattered
Rickrolling is proof that an internet joke can outlive its platform. It turned a song, a hyperlink, and the expectation of a click into a shared language.
How it spread
It escaped its forum origins and became one of the internet’s most durable practical jokes, used by brands, celebrities, friends, and platforms alike.
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