In 2007 Rick Astley became the subject of a viral Internet meme in which an estimated 25 million Internet users were tricked into watching Rick Astley 's video `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' by posting it under the name of other popular video titles . In 2007 , Rick Astley became the subject of a viral Internet meme known as Rickrolling . This is where internet users are tricked into watching Rick Astley 's video `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' by following a link that claims to be something else .