Dolly Parton’s estate accuses fired nephew of threatening to 'destroy the brand' in new lawsuit
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Dolly Parton’s estate has filed a lawsuit against her nephew Bryan Seaver, alleging he threatened to damage the late country star’s legacy and made repeated violent threats toward her employees.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than 20 years, was terminated earlier this month following the alleged behavior.
Bryan Seaver allegedly threatened Dolly Parton’s brand and employees
On Tuesday, September 22, She’s Alive, LLC (SAL), which Parton designed to protect her legacy after her death, filed a lawsuit against Seaver. SAL also filed for a temporary restraining order, which was granted the same day.
The lawsuit alleges Seaver became “emboldened” after Parton died on August 25 at age 80, with his alleged conduct ultimately leading to his termination. Seaver is the son of Parton’s sister Cassie and took over as her head of security from his father, Larry Seaver.
According to one of the filings, Seaver allegedly began a “campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion” several weeks before Parton’s death. The filing claims he vowed in writing to “destroy the entire brand” and told Parton’s entertainment attorney, “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.”
The filings state that Parton “loved and cared for her family very deeply” and strongly believed in employing family members whose skills suited her business needs.
However, Seaver is accused of threatening to smear her brand and “inflict reputational and economic harm” on people responsible for protecting it.
He allegedly threatened to launch a podcast dedicated to damaging Parton’s brand partnerships unless he was paid.
The filing also accuses him of making “threats of real-world violence” toward Parton’s staff, partners, legal and business advisers, allegedly often referring to his background as a military contractor.
SAL said it has a duty to protect employees and partners who promote Parton’s brand and partnership. One filing states that the organization must maintain a safe workplace “free from intimidation or hostility,” particularly intimidation by “an armed former security contractor.”
Bryan Seaver responds following his termination from Dolly Parton’s estate
Following his termination, Seaver and his team responded by criticizing Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell and Pinnacle Bank. They said they were “dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions” taken following Parton’s death.
“We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much,” they told TMZ.
TMZ first reported on September 21 that Seaver had been fired from his position as head of security.
According to the outlet, replacement security guards took over Parton’s main residence in Nashville, her museum, downtown home and warehouse after Seaver received a termination letter.
Seaver was also the person who announced Parton’s death in a social media video.
He said he was representing the Parton and Owens family and explained that Parton had asked him years earlier to share the news of her death when the time came.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he said.
“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
