Get Rick Astley on the 2008 MTV European Music Awards

Our efforts here and through other channels have already made an impact on MTV. Rick has finally been invited to the awards show. We still await word that he will be performing "Never Gonna Give You Up" live on the show. Thanks to all who have signed so far. Please send this to all your friends and post on whatever online communities you belong to spread the word. We must keep the pressure on MTV to ensure that Rick performs live.

To:  MTV Europe

We the undersigned, humbly request that MTV/MTV Europe invite Rick Astley to join the list of invited and confirmed performers that will play live on November 6th at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in Liverpool, England.

Mr. Astley deservedly won his place as a write-in candidate for the Best Ever Act with a resounding 99.98\% of the vote and yet, MTV did not have the basic decency to notify Mr. Astley who was woken with the news by a reporter from the BBC. He was so taken aback that he told the reporter he thought someone was massing with him and that not only had he not been invited to the awards but he wouldn't be buying a train ticket to be part of the 'joke'.

This appalling act of omission was a slap in the face to Rick, his mum and all his fans across the globe and can only be rectified by having Rick perform his biggest hit, "Never Gonna Give You Up", live on the show's broadcast.

This isn't about the 'Rickrolling' phenomena; Mr. Astley had very real impact on the charts with his numerous hits and, as 'light' in message as his biggest hit was, it recently took on new meaning when the Internet group Anonymous took up the song as something of an anthem in the global campaign against the dangerous Scientology organisation.

The song has continued to be a staple at Anonymous' Scientology protests because of its hopeful message that seems very apt considering the predicament many disillusioned Scientologists find themselves in.

As Anonymous, their fellow 'Old Guard' critics and other concerned citizens reach out to help those 'trapped' in Scientology's clutches with unconditional offers of safe harbour and help adjusting to the 'real' world after being forced to 'Disconnect' from friends and family outside of the alleged 'church', Rick's song serves to let those who want out of Scientology -as well as their loved ones know that Anonymous will never give them up or let them down.

In short, win or lose the award itself, Rick Astley deserves to be recognised for his contributions to pop music, popular culture and the history of MTV itself; after all, videos were a relative novelty when Rick made his. Without such content, MTV would not be where it is today.

Can this be said of his fellow nominees? The answer, if you're actually considering that question, is a resounding "NO."

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Get Rick Astley on the 2008 MTV European Music Awards Petition to MTV Europe was created by The Internet Rick Machine and written by David Chan (jenkems@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.