Donald Trump: Village People ‘sent cease and desist letter to former US President’ for using Macho Man song | Ents & Arts News

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Legendary US disco group Village People have reportedly sent Donald Trump a legal letter after a video surfaced of him dancing to one of their hit songs.

Footage shows the former president enjoying Macho Man’s live tribute performance while at a poolside dinner party at Mar-a-Lago.

The 76-year-old, who wants to return to the White House in 2024, regularly uses the group’s songs, particularly Macho Man, at his campaign rallies.

But, according to US media reports, the Village People’s manager has now written a cease and desist letter to the former president to insist that the group did not play the event and that it was an “unauthorized” performance of the song.

Karen Willis, the wife of lead singer Victor Willis, has also reportedly asked Mr Trump, to stop using the group’s likeness in the future.

In a letter to Mr Trump’s lawyers, first obtained by TMZ, he wrote: “(From the video)… we were inundated with posts on social media about the impersonation performance of which many fans, and the general public, is mistakenly believed to be that of the actual Village People.

Photo: Village People

“Therefore the performance was, and continues to cause public confusion as to why Barangays engage in such a performance. We did not.”

“Although my wife publicly authorized your client’s use of her music in the Village People, we cannot allow such use by her to cause public confusion about an endorsement.

“He is therefore requested to cease and desist any further unauthorized use of Village People’s image in connection with the songs and his campaign (or in his personal capacity).”

Mrs Wilis said that if Mr Trump did not stop using the band’s image, the group would take further action, including preventing the use of their music.

“And we don’t want to do that,” he added.

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Mr Willis, the lead singer of the legendary 70s and 80s band, has previously commented on Mr Trump’s use of his songs, including Macho Man and the group’s global hit YMCA

In February 2020, Mr Willis distanced himself from Mr Trump, saying he would allow the use of the band’s songs, but that this did not mean an endorsement.

He wrote in a Facebook post: “Our music is all-inclusive and certainly everyone has the right to do the YMCA dance, regardless of their political affiliation.

“Having said that, we certainly don’t endorse his use as we’d prefer our music be kept out of politics.”

However, Mr Willis asked Mr Trump to stop using his music in June 2020 after it was claimed the then-president wanted to use the US military to quell Black Lives Matter protests.

Sky News has contacted representatives of the Village People and Mr Trump for comment.

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