The lead singer and lyricist for the vintage disco band Village Other folks isn’t precisely making a song the praises of Donald Trump this present day.
In truth, Victor Willis is not easy that the previous president stop and desist what are imagined to be unauthorized performances of the band’s 1978 hit “Macho Guy” at Mar-a-Lago.
On Monday, Willis’ spouse, Karen Willis, who may be the band’s supervisor, despatched a cease-and-desist letter to Trump attorney Joseph Tacopina, accusing Trump of the usage of Village Other folks impersonators at his lodge in Palm Seashore, Florida.
The letter was once despatched in accordance with a video clip that went viral on Thursday and looked as if it would display Trump dancing to a efficiency of “Macho Guy” by way of a bunch of costumed males, who have been allegedly no longer hooked up to the real Village Other folks.
Willis’ ceast-and-desist letter claims that because the efficiency was once first posted on Twitter by way of person @MJisMAGA, the band “has been inundated by way of social media posts” that recommend “many enthusiasts and most people … mistakenly consider” the gang within the video is the real Village Other folks.
“Due to this fact, the efficiency has, and continues to motive public confusion as to why Village Other folks would interact in this kind of efficiency,” the letter reads. “We didn’t.”
Willis then places Trump on understand for attainable violation of U.S. trademark legislation.
“To make sure, the usage of the gang’s symbol and the likeness at Mar-A-Lago was once unauthorized,” the letter says, prior to hinting {that a} lawsuit is also coming near near to offer protection to the band’s trademarked symbol.
Willis implied the band may additionally save you Trump from the usage of Village Other folks songs at rallies, however, she stated, “we’d hate to have to do this.”
Tacopina informed TMZ that he would “handiest handle the legal professional of the Village Other folks, if they’ve one, no longer the spouse of one of the most individuals.” He then were given a bit of petty towards the gang.
“They must be grateful that President Trump allowed them to get their title again within the press,” he stated. “I haven’t heard their title in a long time. Happy to listen to they’re nonetheless round.”
Tacopina’s declare that he hasn’t heard concerning the Village Other folks in years turns out disingenuous taking into account how a lot his shopper loves the band’s tune, incessantly the usage of it at rallies.
Trump even blasted “Y.M.C.A.” whilst boarding Air Power One within the final moments of his presidency.
Participants of the band have had other reviews about Trump’s fondness for his or her tune, relying at the scenario.
In February 2020, the Village Other folks stated they have been OK with Trump enjoying their songs at rallies so long as the tune wasn’t “getting used for a particular endorsement.”
However in June that very same 12 months, amid a wave of demonstrations associated with the homicide of George Floyd, Willis modified his track and requested Trump to prevent enjoying songs like “Macho Guy” and “Y.M.C.A.” if he deliberate to move via with threats to sic the army on non violent protesters.