Key takeaways from the articles:

• The Village People announced their participation in events surrounding President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
• Lead singer Victor Willis has faced backlash, with some branding the band as "traitors" for the decision.
• Willis defended their choice, asserting that "music is to be performed without regard to politics."
• The song "Y.M.C.A." has been a long-time staple at Trump's rallies, adding to the controversy.
• Willis rejects the notion that "Y.M.C.A." is a gay anthem, emphasizing its appeal to a broad audience.

The Village People, known for their disco hits and connection to the LGBT+ community, have recently faced significant backlash after announcing their participation in inauguration events for President-elect Donald Trump. Social media users have harshly criticized the group, labelling them "traitors" for agreeing to perform at a rally and the inaugural ball scheduled for January 20, 2025. This decision has raised eyebrows, given the group's history and association with the pride movement, particularly through their famous anthem "Y.M.C.A."

Lead singer Victor Willis, the sole remaining original member, initially expressed discontent with Trump’s use of the band’s music at political events, having sent a cease-and-desist letter to Trump's campaign last year. However, in a recent Facebook post, he defended the upcoming performance by stating, "We believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics," asserting their aim to help unite a divided nation through their music, despite the group's preferred candidate losing the recent election.

The decision was met with mixed reactions online. Some fans celebrated the announcement, expressing their support for the band's choice to stay apolitical, while others shared their disappointment, arguing that the group's history contradicts their participation in Trump’s events. One commenter lamented, "The Village People stand for acceptance, tolerance, respect for others," suggesting that Trump's values do not align with those principles.

Willis has further argued against the characterization of "Y.M.C.A." as a "gay anthem," stating, “This is a false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay, and some (not all) of Village People were gay,” and stressing that the song is meant to celebrate community rather than exclusively represent the gay community. He has even threatened legal action against media outlets that misrepresent the song's intent.

In a twist, while Willis and the Village People have previously criticized Trump's use of their music, they now seem to embrace it, adding a new layer to the ongoing debate about music and politics. As Willis commented, "The reason that I allowed him to keep using 'Y.M.C.A.' is because he seemed to genuinely like the song, and there were so many other artists that were stopping him from playing their music."

ABC News highlighted how the singer previously indicated they would have to "seriously consider" performing at Trump's inauguration if invited, which they ultimately decided to accept. This change in stance has underscored the complex relationship between the band and their music's political associations.

The impact of their decision and the surrounding controversy continues to play out on social media, emphasizing the diverse interpretations of the Village People’s music as they navigate this politically charged environment.

For more details, visit The Independent, Newsweek, and ABC News.