Because the Village People, own the rights to any troupe that dresses as a cowboy, cop, American Indian, construction worker, and a sailor (it's true, they own it!), the "YCMA" group is furious that chef Jamie Oliver dared dress up as exactly that (see below) to promote his new TV series "Jamie's American Road Trip." 
Now the band is threatening a trademark lawsuit against Channel 4, which airs the series. It doesn't help that Oliver was dancing to the Village People's "Go West" during the promos, completely nixing any attempt at defending Oliver's costumes as a happy coincidence.
Victor Willis, the original cop from the Village People who left the group in 1980, is suing the current group, saying they use his voice and image to promote themselves, and he wants none of it:"The lawsuit filed last week in San Diego by Victor Willis claims companies continue to use his voice and picture to promote the new Village People. He is seeking at least $1 million and a judge's order that they can no longer use his image or voice. Willis was the original police officer in the group and helped pen the Village People's greatest hits, including 'Y.M.C.A' and 'Macho Man.' He is suing Sixuvus Ltd., a New York company that promotes the new Village People. He's also suing the William Morris Agency as well as Can't Stop Productions, which owns the trademark to the band's name, and several venues where the new group has performed."
In 2007, Willis claimed the the lyrics in "Y.M.C.A." were not about gay cruising but about hanging out with your straight buddies.
Said Willis' publicist Alice Wolf: "Victor Willis wrote about the YMCA and having fun there, but the type of fun he was talking about was straight fun. When he says, 'Hang out with all the boys'... he's talking about the boys, the fellas.... But it's one of those ambiguous songs that was taken that way because of the gay association with Village People.'"
Wolf said Willis has nothing against gay people. The former fake cop also made news in 2005 when he was arrested after police found a loaded .45 and crack cocaine in his convertible Corvette.
Because the Village People, own the rights to any troupe that dresses as a cowboy, cop, American Indian, construction worker, and a sailor (it's true, they own it!), the "YCMA" group is furious that chef Jamie Oliver dared dress up as exactly that (see below) to promote his new TV series "Jamie's American Road Trip." 
