
‘YMCA’ Writer Ready to Sue Every Media Outlet in America Over Lies About Trump, Song
“Y.M.C.A.” singer and co-writer Victor Willis of the band Village People announced Monday that starting Jan. 1, he will begin suing every news organization that refers to the song as a “gay anthem.”
The 1978 disco song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last month, fueled by President-elect Donald Trump’s use of it at his campaign rallies and his subsequent victory on Nov. 5.
In a Monday Facebook post, Willis wrote, “There’s been a lot of talk, especially of late, that Y.M.C.A. is somehow a gay anthem. As I’ve said numerous times in the past, that is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay, and some (not all) of Village People were gay, and that the first Village People album was totally about gay life.”
“Sadly, when the President Elect started using the song, people attempting to brand the song as a gay anthem reached a fever pitch as many used it to say, oh, Trump don’t know the song is a gay anthem? This was done in a manner to attempt to shame the President Elect’s use of the song,” he added.
Willis, who pointed out he is not gay, noted that he penned 100 percent of the lyrics for the song, while the late French music producer Jacques Morali wrote the music.
Victor Willis, the singer behind YMCA, has released a message thanking President Trump for dancing to his song. He said the song has “benefited greatly” from Trump’s use.
Willis also reiterated that the song is not a gay anthem and may sue news outlets calling it gay.
“Sadly,… pic.twitter.com/Yx5QFmJIyw
— George (@BehizyTweets) December 3, 2024
The lyrics were based on what Willis knew about the YMCA facilities in urban areas at the time. They provided access to “swimming, basketball, track, and cheap food and cheap rooms.”
YMCA actually stands for Young Men’s Christian Association. The organization was founded in London, England, in 1844 and first came to U.S. shores in Boston in 1851.
According to the YMCA website, “The Y has grown exponentially over the span of our rich history, but our mission of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all has remained constant.”
Willis pointed out that when he wrote the lyrics “hang out with all the boys” that was “simply 1970s black slang for black guys hanging out together for sports, gambling or whatever. There’s nothing gay about that.” To suggest otherwise is “defamatory,” he said.