Rick Astley Sues Rapper Yung Gravy Over Voice Imitation - Deadline

Rick Astley, whose 1987 worldwide hit “Never Gonna Give You Up” is an enduring cultural landmark, has sued rapper Yung Gravy.

Astley’s multimillion dollar lawsuit claims that use of an imitation of his voice on the single “ Betty(Get Money)” was not authorized.

The suit claims only the instrumentals on the song were licensed, and that Astley’s distinctive voice is a resource that needs to be carefully managed.

The legal papers claim Yung Gravy and his producers, including Dillon Francis, “conspired to include a deliberate and nearly indistinguishable imitation of Mr. Astley’s voice throughout the song.” He’s also suing Nick Seeley (aka Popnick), the vocal impersonator.

“Betty” has been Yung Gravy’s most successful song, reaching gold status in the US.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.