*Discrepancies and uncertainties flagged:*
– Marriage date: Wikipedia states Astley married Lene Bausager in 2013; thefamouspeople.com states 2003. Wikipedia is used as the primary source; the discrepancy is noted. The couple had their daughter Emilie in 1992 and had been together since 1987.
– Meme origin: The first ricroll’s attribution is contested. Wikipedia/Rickrolling names Shawn Cotter (May 15, 2007, 4chan GTA IV link). Know Your Meme editor Don Caldwell, quoted in MEL Magazine oral history, says origin is genuinely uncertain and multiple claimants exist. Erik Helwig’s 2006 radio-show prank is noted as a claimed earlier version. The May 2007 4chan post is used as the earliest well-documented instance.
– Astley’s return to music: thefamouspeople.com says 2001 (Keep It Turned On, Polydor); this matches Wikipedia. lost45.com describes the 2007 Japan tour as part of his return to live performance. These are not contradictory — he returned to recording in 2001 and to more active live performing around 2004/2007. The narrative of a meme-alone career restart is inaccurate.
– YouTube royalties: Astley reported $12 from YouTube royalties (as of August 2010, per songfacts.com). Waterman reported £11 (date of statement: April 2009, per rickrolling Wikipedia article). These figures are documented but dated and do not reflect current streaming revenues.
– Emilie’s age during rickrolling: NPR interview says she was “about 15” when rickrolling began (2007). Emilie was born in 1992, making her approximately 14-15 in 2007. Consistent.
*Claims not made in this article for lack of sourced support:*
– Specific net worth or current financial position of Astley
– Identity of the sole creator of rickrolling (disputed and contested)
– Precise royalties received from the meme’s total run
– Details of Astley’s current touring schedule or appearances
– Specific sales figures for post-2016 releases beyond what is documented above