The estate of Dolly Parton accused the country music icon’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire. These allegations came to light in recent court filings. Parton’s estate also asked a judge to keep Seaver away from its employees and business dealings. Dolly passed away on August 25 at the age of 80.
RELATED: Dolly Parton’s Publicist Reveals Singer’s Cause Of Death As The World Pays Tribute To The Beloved Star (VIDEO)
Who Is Suing Dolly Parton’s Nephew?
Bryan Seaver owns a company that used to provide Parton’s security detail. Also, she handpicked him to announce her death from cancer last month. Seaver did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment.
Now, court documents filed Tuesday (Sept. 22) in Nashville appear to indicate the first signs of tension in Dolly Parton’s carefully managed estate process. She’s Alive is the entity that manages and protects Parton’s professional property and business. It is run by Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager.
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She’s Alive is behind filing the temporary restraining order and other court documents. The paperwork claims Dolly Parton’s nephew sent increasingly threatening messages over the last several weeks.
What Is Bryan Seaver Accused Of Doing To Dolly’s Estate?
Last week, on Sept. 15, She’s Alive terminated Seaver and his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. It said his “terrorizing conduct made their continued retention untenable,” according to court documents.
Additionally, the court documents showcase a series of text messages and emails She’s Alive says Seaver sent starting just before Dolly Parton’s death. The messages begin with threats to destroy the brand. Then, after her death, Seaver appears to revel in his newfound fame, calling himself an “international arms dealer.” For example, in one message written on Sept. 1 and included in the court documents, he said:
“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 f**king pay me.”
Also, Bryan Seaver claimed that he worked for private military contractors overseas during the Iraq War and used that experience as part of these threats, according to the complaint.
Another text quoted by TMZ reportedly read: “Her money better be bigger than I can make elsewhere or I’m going to f*** everyone. I am about to become the hand of retribution for my entire family.”
Also, TMZ cited another message that said, “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer” and “I’m going to ratf**k every entity I can possibly conjure.”
The alleged messages from Beaver have led Dolly Parton’s trusts and estates attorney to leave. Also, employees of She’s Alive are resigning, according to the court documents. The entity, per the documents, has also had to hire private security for its employees, including at their homes.
Bryan Responds To Petition Against Him
Therefore, the restraining order is meant to stop Bryan Seaver from talking with or being within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys and business partners. It is also meant to keep him from interfering with its business relationships.
Meanwhile, in a statement to TMZ, Dolly Parton’s nephew denies the claims against him. He affirmed that he’s a soldier, military contractor who conducts arms deals, a security professional and a “killer.” So, in his eyes, none of the texts included in the restraining order filing are threats. “…Most of the comments I stand by,” he reportedly said, adding that most of it was taken and presented out of context.
“I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny, who I thought was my friend, and he fancies himself a gangster,” Bryan Seaver said. “A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”
Additionally, he clarified that the “ratf*ck” comment was about people who did his Aunt Dolly bad in business, a specific company. “Those comments were about specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her and I stand by that,” he said.
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Associated Press writer Hallie Golden contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
