Rick Astley sues Yung Gravy, claiming he ‘flagrantly’ imitated his voice on track ‘Betty (Get Cash)’

Rick Astley is not any stranger to like and, now, the courtroom.

On Thursday, the “By no means Gonna Give You Up” singer sued rapper Yung Gravy over his 2022 monitor “Betty (Get Cash),” claiming that the track — which closely interpolates Astley’s now meme-ified hit — violates each federal trademark regulation and Astley’s proper of publicity by mimicking his voice with out his consent.

In authorized paperwork obtained by EW, Astley’s attorneys allege that Gravy, actual identify Matthew Hauri, “flagrantly impersonated” Astley’s voice on the track and “falsely said he endorsed them with no request, forewarning, or regret,” which has brought about the ’80s crooner “immense injury.”

Singer Rick Astley performs onstage during "The Mixtape" tour at State Farm Arena on July 07, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. ; Yung Gravy performs onstage during the 2022 MTV VMAs pre-show at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Singer Rick Astley performs onstage throughout “The Mixtape” tour at State Farm Area on July 07, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. ; Yung Gravy performs onstage in the course of the 2022 MTV VMAs pre-show at Prudential Heart in Newark, New Jersey.

Paras Griffin/Getty Photographs; Theo Wargo/Getty Photographs Rick Astley is suing Yung Gravy over his track ‘Betty (Get Cash).’

“In an effort to capitalize off of the immense recognition and goodwill of Mr. Astley, Defendants recorded and launched the track ‘Betty (Get Cash)’ which interpolates ‘By no means Gonna Give You Up’ and conspired to incorporate a deliberate and almost indistinguishable imitation of Mr. Astley’s voice all through the track,” the lawsuit learn. “The imitation of Mr. Astley’s voice was so profitable the general public believed it was really Mr. Astley singing and/or a direct pattern (digital lifting of the particular sounds of Mr. Astley’s voice from the sound recording) of ‘By no means Gonna Give You Up.'”

Whereas Gravy and his workforce have been allegedly given clearance to interpolate the music and lyrics of “By no means Gonna Give You Up,” the lawsuit claims that they have been “unable to acquire a license for a pattern,” which means they could not use Astley’s precise voice. As an alternative, it alleges that Gravy employed Nick “Popnick” Seeley to recreate Astley’s “distinctive voice” for “Betty (Get Cash)” and, by doing so with out his permission, violated Astley’s proper to publicity.

“A license to make use of the unique underlying musical composition doesn’t authorize the stealing of the artist’s voice within the authentic recording,” Astley’s attorneys wrote. “So, as a substitute, they resorted to theft of Mr. Astley’s voice and not using a license and with out settlement.”

Alongside its claims, the submitting cited a Billboard interview through which Gravy stated that he “principally remade” the ’80s hit to make use of as a pattern “as a result of it makes it simpler legally.” It additionally references one among Seeley’s Instagram movies the place he says that he desires the Astley imitation to “sound an identical to the unique recording.”

Along with the publicity violations, the submitting additionally claims that Gravy broke federal trademark regulation and created “additional client confusion” by “fraudulently and publicly” saying that Astley was a fan and supportive of the track. His attorneys added, “These statements have been all false.”

EW has reached out to reps for Yung Gravy, however didn’t instantly hear again.

Launched in June, “Betty (Get Cash)” has change into one among Gravy’s largest hits. The track cracked the highest 30 of the Billboard Scorching 100 chart and has gone on to change into a incessantly used sound on TikTok. Astley is searching for damages and calls for a trial by jury.

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