The Village People really want Trump to stop playing 'Macho Man' and say a recent cover of it at Mar-a-Lago caused 'public confusion'
The Village People have asked Trump to stop using their music and likeness at his events.
The band's manager sent a cease-and-desist letter to Trump's lawyer, threatening to sue.
The letter said a cover band's recent performance of "Macho Man" at Mar-a-Lago caused "public confusion."
The Village People really want former President Donald Trump to stop playing their hit song "Macho Man" at his events, and say a cover band's recent performance of it at Mar-a-Lago caused "public confusion."
Karen Willis, the manager of the popular 70s disco band and wife of lead singer Victor Willis, sent Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, a cease-and-desist letter on Monday, which was obtained by Mediaite's Aidan McLaughlin. The letter requested that Trump stop using the band's music and likeness at his events.
Trump has been using the Village People's music, especially their song "YMCA," for years now. Willis said in her letter that up until now, her husband had "tolerated" Trump's use of their music. But the band won't let it go on any longer.
She said a recent "unauthorized" performance on May 11 from a cover band impersonating the Village People was the last straw because it made people think it was the actual band performing — and therefore endorsing— Trump.
—Lyndy (@MJisMAGA) May 12, 2023
"The performance has, and continues to cause, public confusion as to why Village People would even engage in such a performance," Willis wrote. "We did not."
In her letter, Willis threatened to sue if Trump does not stop using the band's "image in association with the songs and his campaign (or in his personal capacity)."
Tacopina, Trump's lawyer, responded to the suit by telling TMZ, "I will only deal with the attorney of the Village People, if they have one, not the wife of one of the members."
When Insider asked Willis for her response, she said "I will not dignify Mr. Tacopina's disingenuous comments with a response."
The Village People are not the first, and likely won't be the last, musicians to demand Trump stop using their music — artists like Rihanna, Adele, and Elton John have also voiced their disapproval.
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