Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Greta Thunberg Epically Trolls Climate Concert Crowd With Rick Astley Hit—And People Went Wild

Greta Thunberg Epically Trolls Climate Concert Crowd With Rick Astley Hit—And People Went Wild
Elena Di Vincenzo/Archivio Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images

The internet prank known as "Rickrolling" may be about a million years old in Internet years, but even Greta Thunberg knows a classic when she sees one.

The Swedish teen climate activist had people going absolutely wild when she trolled the crowd at a recent climate change-themed concert, treating attendees to a surprise performance of pop singer Rick Astley's 1987 hit—and beloved internet joke—"Never Gonna Give You Up."


Thunberg took to the stage at the Climate Live concert in Stockholm to sing and dance to the iconic song.

See a clip below.

@climatelive2021

dudu dududu dudududu #CANYOUHEARUSYET

At first when Thunberg took the stage, she appeared to be preparing to deliver another of the rousing speeches about climate change that she has become famous for--like the one a few weeks ago when she called out Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson for their inaction on the crisis.

But instead of launching into missives about fighting climate apocalypse, Thunberg delivered words that will seem instantly familiar to anyone who's spent time on the internet over the years:

"We're not strangers to love..."

A fellow activist onstage chipped in the next line of Astley's hit:

"You know the rules, and so do I..."

And suddenly the song came bursting out of the sound system as the crowd erupted into an ecstatic song and dance.

The "Rickroll," a long-running internet joke that first began on April Fool's Day 2007, involves a bait-and-switch prank where internet users follow a hyperlink purporting to be relevant to the topic at hand, but instead leads to Astley's deliciously cheesy 80s pop video.

But if you think Astley's feelings might be hurt by all this, think again.

Even he took to Twitter to praise Thunberg's stunt as "fantastic."


Speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the usually serious Thunberg explained why she incorporated a Rickroll into her Cliamte Live appearance:

"At the end of the day, we are just teenagers fooling around with each other, not just the angry kids the media often portrays us as."

On Twitter, people absolutely loved it.












This isn't the first time Thunberg has Rickrolled us.

She previously used the trick in an April Fool's Day tweet this year offering climate change activism guidance, but led to Astley's video.

Good on her for having an appreciation for the internet classics!

More from Trending/funny-news

Ed Sheeran
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Ed Sheeran Claps Back After Being Mocked For Saying He Identifies Culturally As Irish

Whether you love his music or think it's overhyped, everyone and their mother knows who Ed Sheeran is.

The English-based singer of pop and pop-folk became a worldwide sensation practically overnight, especially for songs like "Shape of You," "Shivers," "Perfect," and, to a more niche collective, "Galway Girl."

Keep ReadingShow less
Miley Cyrus
Aeon/GC Images

Miley Cyrus Reveals The NSFW Reason She Was Fired As The Star Of 'Hotel Transylvania'

Miley Cyrus has been in the public eye since the moment she signed a contract for the blockbuster hit Disney Channel show Hannah Montana at the tender age of 13.

Growing up in the spotlight, with every moment analyzed by the media, made her a household name, but also had far-reaching consequences for deviating from her public persona's narrative.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cartoon Network headquarters; Pride flags
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images

Cartoon Network Trolls Homophobes Hard For Melting Down Over Pride Month Fan Art

The cable TV channel Cartoon Network, like most normal people, is celebrating Pride Month this month, and it did so with a post on Instagram that, predictably, has conservatives crying in their Cheerios like a bunch of triggered babies.

The post featured fan art depicting characters from the network's roster of shows over the years waving various LGBTQ+ Pride flags and the like.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot of AI generated video of Donald Trump
@WhiteHouse/X

White House Dragged After Sharing Doctored Video Of Bar Erupting In Cheers Over Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'

On Tuesday, the official social media account for the White House tried to drum up support for MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, but only on right-wing platforms.

The legislation to further Project 2025 through more tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts to programs that serve the poor and working class has struggled since the start.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump speaking to military members at Fort Bragg
Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

Trump Gets U.S. Military Troops To Boo Democrats And 'Fake News' During Alarming Speech

Members of the military stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, erupted in boos when President Donald Trump goaded them during a speech in which he attacked former President Joe Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and the "fake news" covering the ongoing protests in L.A. in response to the Trump administration's immigration raids.

The military has a longstanding tradition of remaining nonpartisan so it was striking that those in attendance, many of whom wore military fatigues, booed in the first place.

Keep ReadingShow less