By Kenneth Williams-
Dolly Parton’s estate has obtained a temporary restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, following allegations that he threatened members of her staff and sought to damage the singer’s business interests and reputation after her death.
Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80 following a private cancer diagnosis. Seaver, who had served as her head of security for more than 20 years, announced her death in a pre-recorded message.
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The circumstances surrounding Seaver’s departure from his security role have since become the subject of a legal dispute. She’s Alive, LLC, which filed the case, alleges that Seaver engaged in a campaign of “threats, intimidation, and coercion” beginning in the weeks before Parton’s death and continuing afterward. A temporary restraining order was granted on September 22.
According to allegations detailed in the filing and reported by TMZ, People and Variety, Seaver is accused of making a series of threatening statements during private communications. One alleged message said he would “destroy the entire brand,” while another allegedly told Parton’s entertainment attorney: “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.”
Brian Seaver fired following row over Parton’s estate
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The filing also cites alleged messages referring to “warfare” and warning that people should be concerned about what Seaver might do. Another alleged message referred to Seaver owning “swords and guns” ,and included a threat of retaliation against people he believed had betrayed his family.
The estate further alleges that Seaver threatened to harm Parton’s commercial reputation and business relationships. According to the filing, he allegedly discussed creating a podcast intended to damage the singer’s brand partnerships unless he received money.
The company also claims that Seaver made threats of violence involving members of Parton’s staff, advisers and business partners, arguing that court intervention was necessary to protect those associated with the estate.
Seaver has disputed the characterization of his communications as threats. In comments to TMZ, he said the messages were exchanged privately with Danny Nozell, Parton’s manager, and argued that they reflected conversations between two people grieving the singer’s death.
“I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny who I thought was my friend,” Seaver said, describing the exchanges as “two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”
The legal action follows Seaver’s reported termination from his security position earlier this month. A termination letter obtained by TMZ reportedly stated that his services and those of his security companies were no longer required.
The letter nevertheless clarified that his removal from the security role did not affect his status as a beneficiary of Parton’s trust. It said the co-trustees would contact Seaver and the other beneficiaries regarding their respective interests.
Seaver and his representatives had previously expressed opposition to his dismissal, describing the move as unexpected and unexplained. They said they remained committed to protecting Parton’s family and carrying out what they believed were her wishes.
The dispute has brought an increasingly public conflict into the aftermath of Parton’s death, raising questions about the management of her estate and the people responsible for protecting her business interests and legacy.
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