Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Maine's CDC Director Used Rick Astley Lyrics to Reassure People About Virus Contact Tracing Program, and the Internet Has a New Hero

Maine's CDC Director Used Rick Astley Lyrics to Reassure People About Virus Contact Tracing Program, and the Internet Has a New Hero
Gregory Rec/Portland Portland Press Herald via Getty Images; Official Rick Astley/YouTube

According to pop culture reference Urban Dictionary, to be Rick Rolled involves a specific song from English crooner Rick Astley.

Since Rick Rolling became a thing, you never know where the ubiquitous lyrics will pop up—like maybe a pandemic briefing by the head of the Maine Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Nirav Shah.


During an update Thursday, September 3, Dr. Shah used the 80s pop hit to reassure citizens on the Pine Tree State.

With a stoic expression, Dr. Shah said:

"The bottom line here is that Maine CDC contact tracers are never gonna give you up..."
"...they're never gonna let you down..."
"...they're never gonna run around and desert you."
"Maine CDC contact tracers are never gonna make you cry..."
"...they're never gonna say goodbye..."
"...and they're never gonna tell a lie and hurt you."

Well played, Dr. Shah, well played.

Giphy

You can watch the full briefing here:

Since the beginning of the pandemic's spread to the United States, Dr. Shah has been the face of the crisis in Maine.

Fan clubs, t-shirts and even candy bars have spawned for the popular public official.

What was it Dr. Shah said?






Until an ill-advised wedding reception in rural central Maine, the state also had one of the best records for containment of the virus.




But even though the nuptials lead to a number of new cases in the state, the total infections sit at 4,713 and deaths are at 134.

And Dr. Shah has assured that his agency's contact tracers are on the case.



Hence the Rick Rolling briefing.

The global pandemic has people around the world on edge, but Dr. Shah's approach has put minds at ease in the state of Maine.

Oh, and this:

Rickrolling In Real Life WITH RICK ASTLEYyoutu.be

Maybe Dr. Shah can get in touch with Mr. Astley for his next briefing...

More from News

Screenshots of military wife
@CassandraRules/X

Wife Of Active Duty U.S. Military Member Goes Viral For Her Furious Reaction To Trump's Attacks On Iran

@kendallybrown, a TikTok user and military wife, went viral after she published a TikTok video in which she let President Donald Trump's supporters know how much she "hates" them after Trump ordered an attack on various sites in Iran on Saturday morning.

Trump said that the U.S. military was "knocking the crap out of Iran" but the "big wave" of attacks is still yet to come, and has not ruled out putting boots on the ground, saying the war is progressing "way ahead of schedule."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ilhan Omar; Nancy Mace
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Ilhan Omar Claps Back Hard After Nancy Mace Tries To Insult Her With Bizarre Post Following Iran Attack

Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar clapped back at South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace after Mace attempted to insult her and Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib after President Donald Trump ordered an attack on various sites in Iran on Saturday morning that killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top officials.

Omar and Tlaib were the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. Both have faced repeated attacks from members of the Republican Party tied to their religion, including being labeled part of the so-called “Jihad Squad,” a term suggesting they are sympathetic to extremism or seek to impose Islamist rule in the United States.

Keep ReadingShow less
Christian Bale
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Christian Bale Explains Why Fans Are Always Disappointed When They Meet Him—And His Candor Is Refreshing

We've all heard the old saying, "You should never meet your heroes," and Christian Bale most certainly agrees.

The Dark Knight actor offered very candid advice to his fans during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, explaining that the last thing any of them should do is try to meet him in real life, because he'll only disappoint them in return.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Pete Hegseth
MS Now

Pete Hegseth Ripped After Trying To Claim That The U.S. 'Didn't Start This War' With Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was criticized after he claimed that the U.S. "didn't start this war" with Iran—just days after the Trump administration authorized an attack on various sites in Iran with the joint efforts of Israel over the weekend.

The war against Iran is already spreading beyond its initial battlefield. Iranian reprisals have struck Gulf states hosting U.S. bases—including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia—while Hezbollah has entered the fight, firing rockets into Israel and ending a month-long ceasefire.

Keep ReadingShow less
Connor Storrie stands center stage on Saturday Night Live alongside U.S. Olympic gold medalists Quinn Hughes (far left), Hilary Knight (left), Megan Keller (right), and Jack Hughes (far right) during his opening monologue in Studio 8H.
Saturday Night Live/YouTube

'SNL' Turns Trump Diss About U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team On Its Head With Sweet Monologue Moment

Connor Storrie’s debut Saturday Night Live monologue had just about everything: jokes, a childhood throwback, a few perfectly placed Heated Rivalry innuendos, and—because this is apparently the most athletic season in Studio 8H history—both the gold-winning players from the U.S. men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams.

The appearance came just days after controversy over invitations to the White House and President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, giving the night an edge that felt bigger than a typical celebrity-cameo parade.

Keep ReadingShow less