In a bizarre twist to the pop culture saga, Village People‘s frontman Victor Willis took to Facebook to address President-elect Donald Trump‘s use of their iconic hit “Y.M.C.A.” Willis, who co-wrote and sang the disco classic, firmly pushed back against the common belief that the song was created as a “gay anthem,” revealing that he “knew nothing about the Y being a hang out for gays” when penning the lyrics.
Willis shared that his inspiration for “Y.M.C.A.” came from his genuine experiences with the global youth organization, particularly drawing from his observations of YMCA facilities in San Francisco’s urban neighborhoods.
Addressing one of the song’s most memorable lines, Willis explained, “When I say, ‘hang out with all the boys’ that is simply 1970s black slang for black guys hanging out together for sports, gambling or whatever. There’s nothing gay about that.”
The disco legend disclosed that he’d received over 1,000 complaints about Trump using “Y.M.C.A” at his campaign rallies. The President-elect made the 1978 hit his signature rally closer in 2020, complete with a now-famous dance routine – a tradition he maintains today. Interestingly, data shows this campaign moment actually boosted the song’s popularity, with streaming numbers and search interest peaking on Election Day.
The phenomenon even spilled into sports, as athletes began recreating Trump’s distinctive dance moves to the disco tune during games, sparking debates about mixing politics with sports.
While Willis admitted to requesting Trump stop using the song because it had become a “nuisance,” he acknowledged that Trump had secured proper licensing through BMI for political use, making the usage completely legitimate.
As various musicians voiced their opposition to Trump using their music at rallies, Willis took a different approach. He confessed to not having “the heart” to stop Trump from using “Y.M.C.A.” In fact, he instructed his wife, who manages the band, to ensure BMI wouldn’t revoke Trump’s license to use the track.
This decision proved financially rewarding for Willis.
“For example, Y.M.C.A. was stuck at #2 on the Billboard chart prior to the President Elect’s 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’s use,” Willis wrote in the post, adding that “the financial benefits have been great.”
Willis addressed the “false assumption” about “Y.M.C.A.” being a gay anthem, acknowledging several contributing factors: his writing partner and some Village People members were gay, their debut album focused entirely on gay life, and “the YMCA was apparently being used as some sort of gay hangout.” Nevertheless, he maintained that the song isn’t a gay anthem and encouraged people to get their “minds out of the gutter.”
Willis expressed that while he’s not bothered by the song being labeled a gay anthem, he believes these “damaging to the song” misconceptions need addressing. Taking a firm stance, he announced that beginning January, his wife plans to pursue legal action against any media outlets that refer to “Y.M.C.A.” as a gay anthem.
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