Nearly one month after Dolly Parton’s death on August 25, her estate has become embroiled in a legal dispute involving her nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Seaver has been accused of attempting to extract money from She’s Alive, LLC., the entity Parton established to protect her professional property and business interests after her death. The filings also allege that he made increasingly threatening statements toward people involved in managing the estate.Seaver was terminated as Parton’s head of security earlier this month. He has denied threatening anyone and disputed the characterization of his private conversations, saying some of the comments cited in the lawsuit were taken out of context. He also called the temporary restraining order “spurious” and “simply a publicity stunt” in a statement to ABC News.
What did Bryan Seaver allegedly say?
The court filing claims that, in conversations with Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell, Seaver sought to create “fear and chaos” while attempting to obtain money for his personal benefit.The lawsuit alleges that Seaver made statements about retaliation against people he believed had betrayed his family. One message cited in the filing allegedly referenced weapons, his military background and what he described as his willingness to pursue those he felt had wronged his family.The documents also allege that Seaver sent a September 3 email to an entertainment attorney who had worked with Parton for years. In that message, he reportedly claimed that he had sold $27 million worth of ammunition and arms to Haitian police on the day Parton died and described himself as an “international arms dealer and mercenary.”
Seaver says comments were taken out of context
Seaver has strongly disputed the allegations. He told ABC News that he had “never threatened anyone” and said the people involved were his friends, colleagues and brothers.He also addressed the allegation that he described himself as a “killer.” Seaver said the term had a different meaning within Parton’s circle and was an inside joke.“Dolly called me her killer. It was a joke we used around her camp,” he said, arguing that Nozell had taken the comment out of context.In a separate statement shared with TMZ, Seaver said he was a security professional and acknowledged using the word “killer,” but maintained that the messages were private conversations between two people grieving Parton’s death.
Bryan Seaver announced Dolly Parton’s death
The allegations come after Seaver was the person who publicly announced Parton’s death on August 25. He said in the video that Parton had asked him years earlier to share the news when the time came.“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,” Seaver said at the time.Seaver had worked as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, taking over a position previously held by his father, Larry.
Why was Seaver removed from his security role?
The lawsuit alleges that the situation escalated to a point where several people associated with Parton’s estate felt unsafe. According to the filing, the trusts and estates attorney handling Parton’s affairs resigned after allegedly receiving harassing and ominous communications.The documents further claim that other employees resigned rather than risk retaliation and that some personnel began avoiding the office.Seaver has rejected those allegations and said he was fired over what he described as “contrived threats.”
Dolly Parton’s sister defends Seaver
The legal dispute has also prompted a response from Parton’s family. Her sister Freida Parton defended Seaver in a Facebook statement on September 23 and said there was “no feud” within the family.“No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly’s estate,” she wrote, adding that the family loves Seaver as they love one another.Her statement comes as the lawsuit focuses on the alleged conduct involving Seaver, She’s Alive and the management of Parton’s professional interests rather than establishing a dispute among Parton’s relatives.
What happens next in the Dolly Parton estate case?
The temporary restraining order limits Seaver and members of his security company from contacting or approaching certain employees, attorneys and business associates connected to She’s Alive. A hearing is scheduled for October 7.The allegations remain claims made in court filings and have not been established as facts at trial. Seaver has denied threatening anyone and maintains that several of the statements cited in the lawsuit were taken out of context. The legal proceedings will now determine the next steps in the dispute involving Parton’s estate and professional interests.
