BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Village People send Trump cease-and-desist over ‘Macho Man’ use

In this Sept. 25, 2020 photo, President Donald Trump does a little dance as he leaves the stage during an campaign rally in Newport News, Va. Trump, a man who is famously particular about his appearance, is fully embracing doing a dad dance to the Village People’s “YMCA” as the finale to his rallies in the campaign’s closing stretch. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(The Hill) — Famed musical group the Village People has sent former President Trump a cease-and-desist letter over his usage of their hit song “Macho Man.”

Karen Willis, the band’s manager and wife of lead singer Victor Willis, sent Trump’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, the letter on Monday, calling into question a recent performance at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

A cover band’s recent performance of the group’s song at Trump’s Florida resort caused “confusion,” as many believed the imitation group was the actual band, Willis argued in the letter.

Willis also took issue with the cover band dressing similarly to the Village People, saying, “the use of the group’s image and likeness at Mar-a-Lago was unauthorized,” and a trademark violation.

The Village People have spoken out about Trump’s usage of their music before, notably in 2020 when they penned a Facebook post saying he had been “respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line.”

Monday’s letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Hill, sang a different tune.

“Though my husband has tolerated your client’s use of his Village People music, we cannot allow such use by him to cause public confusion as to endorsement,” the letter reads.

The missive stipulates that Trump must cease use of the group’s image, likeness and music in his campaign or personal use.

In response to the letter, Tacopina told TMZ he would “only deal with the attorney of the Village People, if they have one, not the wife of one of the members.”

He added, “But they should be thankful that President Trump allowed them to get their name back in the press. I haven’t heard their name in decades. Glad to hear they are still around.”

The Hill has reached out to Tacopina for further comment.

Entertainment

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

51°F Sunny Feels like 51°
Wind
2 mph E
Humidity
48%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
47°F Partly cloudy skies. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
7%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous