Victor Willis, the lead singer of the Village People, announced on Monday that the band has accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump’s team to perform at several inauguration events, including at least one with Trump himself.
In a Facebook post, Willis acknowledged that the news might not sit well with everyone, but explained their decision, saying, “We believe music should be performed without regard to politics.” He went on to explain that their song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem, and he hopes it will help bring the country together after a tough and divided campaign season, even though their preferred candidate didn’t win.
The Village People will perform at several events, including an Inaugural-Eve Ball hosted by Turning Point USA, a conservative activist group. The event is expected to feature big names like Vice President-elect JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard, who’s been picked as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
This announcement follows a month after Willis defended Trump’s use of Y.M.C.A. at campaign rallies, denying that the song is a “gay anthem.” The 1978 hit, which surged in popularity after being featured on Trump’s campaign playlist, has continued to draw attention.
The Village People clarified their stance in a statement, saying, “We believe that music is non-political and that Y.M.C.A. may help bring the country together. Therefore, we will participate in several inaugural activities.”
Trump’s transition team hasn’t yet commented on whether the Village People will perform at any of the official inaugural events this weekend.
Reactions to the announcement have been mixed. Some fans praised the band for putting politics aside, while others were disappointed. One Facebook commenter wrote, “Thank you for putting politics aside and letting everyone enjoy your music,” while another said, “You should be ashamed.”
