Village People to perform at multiple Trump inauguration events, band says
Village People announced they accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump's team to perform at inaugural events.
Victor Willis, the lead singer of the Village People, announced Monday that the band had accepted an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump's team to perform during several inauguration events, including at least one with Trump himself.
“We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” Willis wrote on Facebook. “Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”
One of the events the Village People will perform at is an inaugural eve ball hosted by Turning Point USA, a conservative activist group. Confirmed guests include Vice President-elect JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for director of national intelligence, according to the event website.
Willis last month defended Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” at campaign rallies and denied that the song is a "gay anthem." The 1978 disco hit spiked in listenership in November after it secured a spot on Trump’s campaign playlist, data shows.
“We believe that music is non-political and that YMCA is a song that may help bring the country together. Therefore, we will participate [in] several inaugural activities,” the Village People said in an emailed statement.
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