Today, September 25, is Dolly Parton Day — 9/25 — and a day to celebrate the late singer’s legacy with various events across the country, primarily promoting Dolly’s mission of being kind, and fostering literacy for children.
But within the Parton estate, there is a shockingly unkind atmosphere brewing.
The estate of the late Dolly Parton has secured a restraining order against the country music star’s nephew and former head of security Bryan Seaver for making relentless threats toward Dolly’s estate employees and manager.
Bryan Seaver, who announced Dolly’s death on August 25, is ordered to stay 1,000 feet from all estate employees and business partners. Seaver previously worked for private military contractors and later provided security for Parton and her properties through his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, which is also subject to the temporary restraining order.
The lawsuit reads: “These were not ordinary workplace disputes or heated words; they were deliberate threats from a self-proclaimed heavily armed, former security operative with a military-contractor background. Many of [Parton’s staff members] are now afraid to come to work or have resigned entirely because they do not feel safe.”
The judge’s restraining order cited several written communications in which Seaver allegedly threatened Danny Nozell, the sole manager of She’s Alive LLC, the company that Parton designated to control her professional property and business interests after her death.
- “I’m going to destroy the entire brand if you don’t get these [Dollywood business partners] out of our bit,” Seaver allegedly wrote in one text on Aug. 19.
- “I just sold 29 million dollars worth of ammo to Haiti. I’m not exactly a media person, Danny. I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary,” Seaver wrote in another text after Dolly’s death.
- “Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do,” reads another message attributed to Seaver and cited in the ruling. “All I have is animosity and memory. But I’m going to spend the next times I have on earth ratfucking anyone that has ever betrayed my family.”
Seaver also wrote a demand for payment.
- “I’m going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. It’s going to be great. Or fucking pay me.”
Seaver was removed from his security role connected to Parton’s business on Sept. 15, according to lawyers for She’s Alive, but they also said the termination did not affect Seaver’s separate interest as a beneficiary of the trust.
Seaver defended his text messages in a statement on Tuesday and said they were taken out of context. “I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments,” he said. “However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.”
Read more at The Guardian, and Rolling Stone