Victor Willis, The Village People’s Police Man, Dead at 74

The flag will be half-staff at the White House today: Victor Willis, lead singer of the popular disco-era group The Village People, has died at the age of 74.

According to a statement from released Wednesday, Willis died following a “a short but aggressive illness.”

The Village People skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s with infectious disco hits “Y.M.C.A.”, “In the Navy,” and “Macho Man.” Adding to their appeal, especially within the gay community, was the group’s subversion of hyper-masculine archetypes, with members dressing in outfits including a policeman (portrayed by Willis), cowboy, Native American, construction worker, soldier, and leather biker. During the peak of their popularity, “Y.M.C.A.” reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while “In the Navy” hit No. 3.

Years later, Donald Trump would adopt “Y.M.C.A.” as a quasi theme song and invited Willis and other current members of The Village People were invited to perform it live at his 2024 presidential inauguration.

Over time, Willis came to reject the gay connotations attached to “Y.M.C.A.” and The Village People, especially as critics weaponized the track to mock the group’s newfound popularity in the wake of their associations with Trump. In December 2024, Willis even threatened to take legal action against news outlets that described the song as a “gay anthem.”