Rick Astley sues rapper Yung Gravy over 'Never Gonna Give You Up' soundalike

Rick Astley (left) has sued Yung Gravy for using a soundalike singer in the song 'Betty (Get Money)'. Photos: AP, Yung Gravy/Instagram

Rick Astley has sued the rapper Yung Gravy over a song that borrowed heavily from the British singer's signature Never Gonna Give You Up, claiming that the new song illegally used an impersonator who imitated Astley's distinctive baritone.

The complaint, filed on Jan 26 in Los Angeles Superior Court, said Yung Gravy's 2022 song, Betty (Get Money), violated Astley's right of publicity by featuring the singer Popnick, who imitated Astley's voice so well that listeners thought Astley was actually singing.