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Village People’s Victor Willis defends Donald Trump’s use of the word ‘YMCA’ and claims the song is not a gay anthem

Village People’s Victor Willis defends Donald Trump’s use of the word ‘YMCA’ and claims the song is not a gay anthem

Victor Willis, founder of Village People, is determined to set the record straight about the song ‘YMCA’

In long post on Facebook on Monday, the 73-year-old singer-songwriter not only denied the song’s “gay anthem” status, but stood by his decision to allow the president-elect Donald Trump play this song at your pre-campaign rallies his November victory. After stating that Trump had obtained the necessary BMI license to use the song, Willis explained that he decided not to withdraw the permissions when he noted that Trump “really likes” the song and was “I’m having fun doing it.”

Willis wrote that he “didn’t have the heart” to prevent Trump from using the song, especially since it came at a time when “numerous artists were pulling out of the president-elect’s use of their material.”

Andrew Chin/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Victor Willis and Donald TrumpAndrew Chin/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Victor Willis and Donald Trump

Andrew Chin/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Victor Willis and Donald Trump

The twice-impeached former president did just that he actually faced criticism for his musical choices during each of his presidential campaigns, including artists Rihanna, Pharrell, Adela, Aerosmith, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, Nickelback, Rolling Stones, Queenand more. In 2020, opposing musicians included the Village People themselves.

The group initially offered Trump reluctant permission, writing, “He was respectful by using our songs and didn’t cross the line” in: February Facebook post. However, just four months later, they withdrew their consent and asked Trump to stop using their music following his administration’s decision a militant response to peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020. “Please do not use my music at your rallies anymore, especially “YMCA” and “Macho Man.” I’m sorry, but I can’t look the other way anymore.” Willis wrote then.

But now the Village People frontman notes that allowing the use of “YMCA” at Trump events has had significant financial benefits.

“The YMCA has benefited greatly from the President-elect’s use,” Willis wrote. “For example, the song YMCA was stuck at No. 2 on the Billboard charts before being used by the President-elect. “However, after more than 45 years, the song finally hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts (and stayed at No. 1 for two weeks) due to its use by the President-elect.”

He added that since Trump began using the song, “the estimated gross revenue is several million dollars.” “That’s why I’m glad I allowed the president-elect to continue using the YMCA, and I thank him for choosing to use my song.”

Related: Billie Eilish sharply criticizes “predator” Donald Trump and leaves the stage mid-song after lyrics about overturning the Roe v. Wade ruling

Willis then addressed the song’s common characterization as a “gay anthem,” vehemently denying that achieving such status was his intention when writing the lyrics.

“There has been a lot of talk, especially lately, that YMCA is somewhat of a gay anthem,” Willis wrote. “As I have said many times in the past, this is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay and some (not all) of the Village People were gay, and that the first Village People album was entirely about gay life.”

Michael Ochs/Getty Archives The Village People in 1980Michael Ochs/Getty Archives The Village People in 1980

Michael Ochs/Getty Archives

People from the countryside in 1980

He continued, “This assumption is also based on the fact that the YMCA was apparently used as some sort of gay hangout, and since one of the writers was gay and some of the Village People are gay, the song must be a message to gay people.” I say again: get out of the gutter. That’s not true.

Willis wrote that he “knew nothing about the Y being a gay hangout” and explained that he wrote “YMCA” based on his knowledge of San Francisco locations as hangouts.

“When I say ‘hang out with all the boys,’ it’s just ’70s black slang for black guys hanging out together while playing sports or gambling or whatever,” he said of one of the song’s most famous lyrics. “There’s nothing gay about it. This.”

Related: The best LGBTQ anthems of all time

The musician then said he plans to sue his wife, attorney Karen Willis, against “any news organization that falsely labels YMCA” as a gay anthem, adding, “But it doesn’t bother me that gays consider this song their anthem.”

Willis concluded: “The true anthem is the YMCA’s appeal to people of all walks of life, including President-elect Trump. But this song isn’t actually a gay anthem, unless some people are falsely implying that it is. And this must stop because it is harming society. song.”

Read the original article about Entertainment Weekly