20 Websites That Redirected to Weird Pages
The strangest website redirects that sent people to unexpected and bizarre pages.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Back then, clicking a link could take you somewhere totally unexpected. Some redirects were funny, while others became internet legends. This list shows the strangest and most unforgettable website redirects people ran into online.
1. The Classic Rickroll
Silvanathecat on Wikimedia Commons
You thought you were getting an article, but instead you landed on Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” This harmless prank became one of the most iconic redirects in internet history. The Rickroll still pops up today, proving that the internet never forgets.
2. Meatspin’s Shock Factor
Lukas on Pexels
Early internet pranksters loved redirecting links to Meatspin, a shock site that surprised countless users. It became a rite of passage for anyone spending too much time on forums or chat rooms. Many people learned the hard way to double-check links.
3. Lemon Party’s Viral Spread
Dan Brown on Wikimedia Commons
This redirect became infamous for tricking unsuspecting users into something they never wanted to see. It was one of those links that spread like wildfire in the early 2000s. Even now, the name alone is enough to make internet veterans cringe.
4. Goatse’s Unforgettable Surprise
Sam Hocevar, Wikimedia Commons user Sam Hocevar (talk · contribs) on Wikimedia Commons
Probably the most notorious redirect of all time, Goatse left people stunned and scarred. It became a legendary example of why you should never click suspicious links. For years, “getting Goatse’d” was internet slang for being tricked online.
5. Whitehouse.com Confusion
Original uploader was Bluefoxicy at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
Many people typed in Whitehouse.com expecting government info but were instead redirected to adult content. It caused endless confusion, especially among kids doing school projects. Teachers had to give very specific instructions: use .gov, not .com.
6. HeavensGate Redirect
Nemuel Sereti on Pexels
A website tied to the Heaven’s Gate cult shocked visitors when they clicked old links and landed on its eerie homepage. The page remained online for years, creating an unsettling internet experience. It reminded users that redirects were not always harmless pranks.
7. Tubgirl Shock Site
Vojtech Okenka on Wikimedia Commons
Tubgirl was another infamous redirect that people used to prank their friends. The content was so shocking that even hearing the name made people uneasy. It became one of the internet’s most dreaded link surprises.
8. Zombo.com’s Endless Redirect
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Zombo.com redirected visitors into a never-ending experience filled with looping audio and bold claims. The page repeated that “you can do anything” on Zombo.com, but it never actually led anywhere. It became one of the internet’s funniest and most pointless redirect pranks.
9. YTMND Pranks
No machine-readable author provided. WikiLeon assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia Commons
The site You’re The Man Now, Dog became famous for redirecting people to pages filled with looping audio and tiled images. It was bizarre and hilarious at the same time. Users never knew what strange creation they would end up on next.
10. Surprise Ebaums Redirects
Samer Daboul on Pexels
Ebaumsworld links often redirected users to unexpected prank pages. Some were funny, while others pushed the limits of shock humor. It became a hotspot for unpredictable browsing during the 2000s.
11. Shafou.com Redirect
cottonbro studio on Pexels
Shafou.com was one of those mysterious redirects that baffled early internet users. Clicking it often took you to unexpected, random sites with no clear purpose. It spread through message boards as a weird link to trick friends.
12. Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Redirect
Rachel Claire on Pexels
At one point, visiting Orville.com unexpectedly redirected users to a bizarre domain. Instead of buttery popcorn content, you’d land on odd placeholder pages. It became one of those harmless but funny redirect stories people shared online.
13. Rotten.com Redirects
Andrea Davis on Pexels
Rotten.com was known for shocking images, but pranksters also used redirects to push people there. A normal-looking link could suddenly land you on its disturbing homepage. It was one of the most dreaded redirects during the early 2000s.
14. 2 Girls 1 Cup Redirect
Anna Shvets on Pexels
This infamous video was often hidden behind innocent-looking links. The shock value spread so widely that it became a cultural meme. Many learned to never trust a link without hovering over it first.
15. The Dancing Baby Redirect
Telaneo on Wikimedia Commons
Redirects sometimes led to harmless fun, like the famous Dancing Baby animation. Users would expect one thing but instead find the looping 3D baby dance. It was a lighthearted reminder that not all pranks were disturbing.
16. Blue Waffle Redirect
Danny Meneses on Pexels
Another shock redirect that circulated widely was the so-called “Blue Waffle.” It became notorious for gross-out humor across forums and prank emails. Even if you never saw it, the name alone caused reactions.
17. BME Pain Olympics Redirect
Sanket Mishra on Pexels
Links that redirected to the BME Pain Olympics were designed to horrify. This extreme video content became one of the most infamous redirects online. It was the kind of link you regretted opening instantly.
18. Homestar Runner Pranks
various on Wikimedia Commons
Redirects sometimes sent users to Homestar Runner’s quirky Flash animations. Unlike shock sites, these were funny and creative. It gave prank links a playful side that people actually enjoyed.
19. eBaum’s Redirect Battles
Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels
Rival sites sometimes set up redirects to eBaum’s World as a prank. It was both a joke and a way to poke fun at the site’s reputation. Internet users could never be sure where a link might take them.
20. The Hampster Dance Redirect
Alpha En on Pexels
Some redirects took users straight to the Hampster Dance page, where cartoon hamsters danced endlessly to a catchy tune. It was silly, harmless, and oddly addictive. The site became one of the earliest viral internet pranks.