Victor Willis, the singer and co-writer of the iconic Village People hit “Y.M.C.A.,” has defended former U.S. President Donald Trump’s use of the song during campaign rallies and promotional content.
Willis clarified that the disco classic was never intended to be a “gay anthem.”
Willis explained that when he wrote the lyrics, he had no knowledge of the YMCA being a gathering place for the gay community. Instead, he drew inspiration from the youth organization and its urban branches, particularly in San Francisco.
He emphasized that the line “hang out with all the boys” was a reference to 1970s Black slang, describing men socializing through activities like sports or gambling, with no intended gay subtext.
Despite receiving over 1,000 complaints about the song’s use at Trump’s rallies, Willis acknowledged the former president’s legal right to play the track under a political use license obtained from BMI, which manages music performance rights. While Willis initially requested Trump stop using the song due to the controversy it sparked, he ultimately decided not to block the licensing.
Willis revealed that Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” contributed to a resurgence in the song’s popularity.
On Election Day, search interest and listenership for the track soared, propelling it to the top of the Billboard chart for the first time in over 45 years, where it held the #1 spot for two weeks. Willis admitted that the financial gains from the renewed success of the song were significant.
While other artists opposed Trump using their music, Willis took a more pragmatic approach. “I didn’t have the heart to prevent him from using it,” he said, adding that his decision had been beneficial financially.
Regarding the perception of “Y.M.C.A.” as a gay anthem, Willis attributed the misconception to several factors: his writing partner and some band members were gay, their debut album was centered on gay life, and the YMCA itself was associated with being a gay hangout.
However, Willis maintained that the song was not created as a gay anthem and urged people to “get their minds out of the gutter.”
Although Willis stated he doesn’t object to the song being embraced as a gay anthem, he believes the mislabeling damages its legacy. He also warned that starting January, his wife, who manages the band, will take legal action against any media outlet that continues to describe “Y.M.C.A.” as a gay anthem.
