The Village People vs Disney: Who Will Win?
The Village People vs Disney: Who Will Win?
The Village People vs Disney is one of the most unexpected feuds in entertainment to date.
Before 2024, most people wouldn’t have known there was any beef between the iconic band and the entertainment company.
However, it became public knowledge when Karen Willis, the wife of the Village People’s Victor Willis, filed a lawsuit against Disney in 2023.
The legal documents, which were obtained by TMZ and published online, claim that her husband, as well as another original band member, experienced hostile treatment from the company.
Also, she alleges the much-loved group was blackballed from booking gigs at its many theme parks.
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Why Have the Village People Filed a Lawsuit Against Disney?
Until recently, the Village People have had a positive relationship with Disney, annually performing at Walt Disney World Resort for the past decade.
However, Victor Willis’s wife, Karen, who is also the manager of the band’s trademark for live performances, decided to file a lawsuit against Disney, stating the Village People has been blackballed from the theme parks and experienced hostile treatment.
According to the suit, Disney discriminated against the band for Disney World performances by “outright refusing to seriously consider the group. This unfair business practice by Disney denied Village People an opportunity to fairly compete for a slot to perform.”
Mrs Willis stated that Disney cast members blocked her from a sound booth to monitor performance levels when the band was booked for a performance at Disney World.
It is unclear if she had been granted access previously or if it was part of her typical operating duties.
To make the case more complex, Karen Willis believes the theme park’s security let the band down.
Victor left the band in the 1980s and embarked on a successful lawsuit to reform the group with a new lineup and use the Village People name. Consequently, Mrs Willis believes “fans” were planted by ex-band members to harass herself and her husband.
She, therefore, claims Disney breached the performance contract by failing to provide appropriate security.
Finally, Mrs Willis claims checks were often made to the wrong names or individuals following performances at Walt Disney World Resort and they couldn’t be negotiated.
She believes Disney has since given the Village People the cold shoulder, blacklisting the band from performing at the Magic Kingdom.
What is the Likely Outcome of the Case?
The Village People could have a strong case against Disney. On June 21, 2024, San Diego County Superior Judge Katherine Bacal ruled the case could move forward.
If Disney did place a “do not book edict” on the Village People, it could have committed fraud and violated state laws.
Likely eager to close the case, Disney may choose to settle the case out of court. If the case moves forward, it could be dismissed, ruled a mistrial, or the entertainment company might be forced to pay compensation.