Dolly Parton’s sister denies family tension as nephew is fired amid reported $600m dispute
Updated . First published at
One of Dolly Parton’s 11 siblings has spoken out amid flaring tensions after her nephew, Bryan Seaver, was reportedly dismissed from his position as head of security for Dolly’s estate.
Despite rising legal tensions, Dolly’s sister Freida Parton has denied that there is any family feud regarding the late singer’s estate.
Dolly Parton died on August 25, surrounded by family. It was her nephew, Bryan Seaver, who was tasked with sharing the news with the world. AP
“I’ll say this and this only: there is no feud within our family,′ Freida shared in an Instagram post Thursday morning.
“No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate.
“We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other. I love you all!!”
Frieda’s statement follows reports that She’s Alive, the corporation created to protect Parton’s legacy, filed a suit against Seaver alleging that he threatened to “destroy” the late singer’s legacy and made repeated violent threats toward staff.
According to court filings obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, the lawsuit claims Seaver, the son of Dolly’s sister Cassie Parton, became “emboldened” after Parton’s death on August 25. Seaver was the spokesperson, elected by Parton, who announced her death.
The files allege that Seaver “began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing”.
“In writing, he vowed to ‘destroy the entire brand’ and also told her entertainment attorney: “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer,’” read one of the filings as per PEOPLE.
The files claim Seaver’s alleged behaviour ultimately led to his dismissal.
Seaver has since responded to the reports, confirming that he was fired while referring to the lawsuit as a “publicity stunt”.
Seaver had acted as Dolly’s head of security for more than two decades before his role was terminated following her death. Instagram/@dollyparton
“The restraining order is spurious and simply a publicity stunt,” he said in a statement shared with US ABC News.
“I was fired. After the estate negotiated with me and my company for services in perpetuity and agreed to that service provision from my company. A week later they fired me for these contrived ‘threats.’”
Seaver and his team attributed the decision to dismiss him from the role to Dolly’s longtime manager, Danny Nozell, saying at the time that they were, “dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions” taken.
Parton’s fortune is estimated to be wroth $US450 million ($600 million). Getty Images
Nine.com.au is not suggesting any wrongdoing has occurred and has contacted Parton’s long-time manager, Danny Nozell, and Pinnacle Bank for comment.
Seaver had been in the role of head of security for more than two decades, taking it over from his father, Larry Seaver.
The termination letter reportedly said that Parton’s properties and business interests are controlled by the DP Dean Trust and while Seaver’s security role has been stripped, it has not affected his personal interest in the trust.
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