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Old Village Person Sues New Village People
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 10, 2009
Modified Feb 10, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 10, 2009
Modified Feb 10, 2009
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Victor Willis—former "police officer" in The Village People, recovering coke addict, and ex-husband of Phylicia Rashad—has filed a lawsuit against the new Village People, seeking at least $1 million and a court order preventing them from using his image or voice. Willis wrote the lyrics for many of the original Village People hits (such as Y.M.C.A.) but left the group for good in the early '80s. The manufactured "band" continues to this day with a mostly different lineup, and Willis contends that Sixuvus Ltd., a New York company that promotes them, is illegally replicating his likeness and voice. According to the AP, he's also suing the William Morris Agency and Can't Stop Productions, which owns the trademark to the band's name. Oh, and several venues where the new group has performed are also being sued by Willis, as well as, presumably, everyone who's ever raised their arms to make a "Y."
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lawsuit
suing
village people
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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