Best known for his debut single which instantly became a hit, “Never Gonna Give You Up”, Rick Astley is an English singer, songwriter, and radio personality. The song took the world by storm by becoming a #1 hit single in 25 countries and winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. His other songs, like “Together Forever” and “Whenever You Need Somebody”, also contributed to his worldwide popularity. He received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year in 1989 for “Together Forever”.
Surprisingly, “Never Gonna Give You Up” is still very popular today because of an internet meme. Tagged as “Rickrolling” or “Rickroll”, the meme is said to be one of the greatest memes of all time.
Making a significant impact on the music industry, it also doesn’t come as a surprise that the young hitmaker would become the focus of gossip. The public began speculating about his sexuality. So, is Rick Astley gay? Let’s get to know the legendary hitmaker better.
VOTE: What is Rick Astley’s Sexuality?
The Rise to Global Stardom
Rick Astley’s biggest hit is “Never Gonna Give You Up”, there’s no question about that. The hit song has radio plays and sales to back up that claim. Plus, the mere fact that there are only four songs from the 80s that reach over one billion views on YouTube, and that was one of them, was enough proof already.
“Never Gonna Give You Up” may have brought Rick Astley to ultimate stardom. But the same song also sparked gay rumors about the singer. Although nothing about the song’s lyrics suggests anything about being gay, some fans were led into thinking that it revealed something about the singer’s sexuality.
On Giving it All Up to Raise His Family
I met my wife in 1987. I fell in love with her the day I met her. I’d rack up some big phone bills calling her from all over the world.”
Rick Astley on meeting his wife
After making it to global stardom because of his hit song “Never Gonna Give You Up”, fans were surprised when Rick Astley gave it all up to settle down at the age of 28. He married Lene Bausager in 2003 and decided to become a family man at a young age. The 80s icon has been married to the same woman for two decades now.
The couple met in 1987 when Astley was still at the peak of his career. He fell in love with Bausager, who was working for his Danish record label at that time. They got together in 1989 and had their daughter, Emilie, in 1992. The singer retired from the music industry in 1993 to focus more on raising his family. After 15 years of dating and being engaged, the couple finally decided to tie the knot in 2003.
I have been with the same woman for 27 years but we only got married recently. It was very, very casual. We had been engaged for 15 years but we were both very busy. We just didn’t find a date in the diary.”
Rick Astley told The Sun in a 2016 interview
Their daughter, Emilie Astley, is now a 31-year-old artist and landscape designer. His wife, Lene Bausager, is now an Oscar-nominated film producer. She is best known for “Coherence” (2013), “Cashback” (2006), and “Trainspotting” (1996).
View this post on Instagram
Is Rick Astley Gay?
It’s crazy how rumors about Rick Astley’s sexuality started. No matter how some fans thought that “Never Gonna Give You Up” is some sort of a coming out song, there was nothing homosexual about its lyrics. And nothing is more straight than being in a relationship and married to the same woman most of his life. There’s no truth about all those rumors, the 80s hitmaker is definitely not gay.