{"id":8336,"date":"2024-12-05T15:34:57","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T20:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greatamericanewsdesk.com\/?p=8336"},"modified":"2024-12-05T15:34:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T20:34:58","slug":"ymca-singer-defends-trumps-use-of-song-floats-potential-inauguration-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greatamericanewsdesk.com\/media\/ymca-singer-defends-trumps-use-of-song-floats-potential-inauguration-performance\/njackson\/2024\/12\/","title":{"rendered":"YMCA Singer Defends Trump’s Use Of Song – Floats Potential Inauguration Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Victor Willis, a founding member of the Village People and co-writer of the popular \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d disco song defended President-elect Donald Trump’s use of the song and rebuked claims the song is a “gay anthem.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 73-year-old songwriter wrote a lengthy Facebook post explaining<\/a> that the popular song was based on his perception of the organization, saying he \u201cknew nothing about the Y being a hang out for gays.\u201d Y.M.C.A. is an acronym for the Young Men\u2019s Christian Association nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWhen I say, \u2018hang out with all the boys\u2019 that is simply 1970s black slang for black guys hanging-out together for sports, gambling or whatever. There\u2019s nothing gay about that,\u201d he said of the lyrics.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Willis added that even though some members of Village People were gay, \u201cY.M.C.A\u201d was not meant to be about sexuality, and people should get their \u201cminds out of the gutter.\u201dThe singer went on to say those assumptions are \u201cdamaging to the song\u201d and that starting next year, he and his wife will sue any news outlet that refers to \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d as a gay anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willis said he has received \u201cover a thousand complaints\u201d about the use of \u201cY.M.C.A\u201d at Trump\u2019s campaign rallies. Trump started using the song on the campaign trail in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The songwriter added that while getting all the complaints was a \u201cnuisance,\u201d he eventually realized the benefit of Trump using the song and reviving its popularity more than four decades after its release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cFor example, Y.M.C.A. was stuck at #2 on the Billboard chart prior to the President Elect\u2019s use. However, the song finally made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years (and held on to #1 for two weeks) due to the President Elect\u2019s use,\u201d Willis wrote, saying, \u201cthe financial benefits have been great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I decided to allow the president-elect’s continued use of YMCA because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music,” Willis said on Fox News. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

NEW: YMCA singer Victor Willis suggests he would be open to performing the song at Trump's inauguration, says he will sue outlets who call the song a "gay anthem."

Based.

Willis says he supports Trump using the song because it brings "joy to the American people."

"I decided to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/e4YoOJGes5<\/a><\/p>— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 5, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>