This was the answer to one of the clues in the NYT crossword yesterday and since I did not know it; time for investigation!
Of course you may know different aspects of it and may have had similar ‘pranks’; this particular prank was very famous at a time apparently!
The answer was RICKROLL!
Do you know what that is?
The clue of course was the answer! A famous internet prank!
Have you head of this song called “Never Gonna Give You Up”? That was by Rick Astley. It is a pretty famous song and many would have heard of it.
Rickroll is thus a popular internet prank where someone is tricked into watching the music video for Rick Astley’s 1987 hit song!
Once clicked, the user is redirected to the Rick Astley music video instead of the expected content. This moment is known as being “Rickrolled”!
Of course beyond links, rickrolling has evolved to include QR codes, ASCII art, hidden lyrics in speeches, and live performances!
Then again it was not even the original! Rickrolling has actually come from Ducks!
“Duckrolling” was the original prank which originated on the imageboard 4chan as a variation of “duckrolling,” where users were tricked into clicking a link that showed an image of a duck on wheels!
The First Rickroll was in 2007! When on May 15, 2007, a 4chan user posted a link that was supposed to be a trailer for the highly anticipated game Grand Theft Auto IV, but it led to the Astley video!
The meme peaked in 2008 when it was used by the group Anonymous to protest the Church of Scientology and featured in YouTube’s April Fools’ Day prank!
The prank was so popular that Rick Astley himself participated in a “live” Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2008) Rickroll by appearing on a float and lip-syncing to his song!
The official White House Twitter account rickrolled a user who complained about the entertainment value of their briefings!
Then the popular band Foo Fighters invited Rick Astley on stage during a festival in Japan to perform the song, effectively rickrolling the entire audience!
As recent as (2022/2025); pranks have used drones to form giant QR codes in the sky that lead to the video!
Now when I saw Rickroll you do not be a blank slate or wall! Wall reminds me of Rahul Dravid! A quick sketch on a hyper busy day!
Now ROLL over and sleep!
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