Actor Ricky Schroder is facing widespread criticism for a tribute to the late country music icon Dolly Parton that fans deemed disrespectful, inflammatory, and self-centered. Parton died Tuesday at the age of 80.
Schroder, who starred as Parton's father in the television movies "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors" (2015) and "Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love" (2016), posted a remembrance on Instagram shortly after news of Parton's death broke. The post included a photo of himself with Parton and a caption that read, "I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy."
Fans and public figures immediately condemned the post as insensitive. Journalist Katie Couric commented "ick," while singer Boy George wrote, "Oh shut up!"
Many commenters described Schroder's tribute as backhanded and inappropriate, particularly given its timing. "Ricky, she just died. You could have honored her without using her death to remind everyone that you disapproved of her supporting trans people and vaccines. What a s[...] y, self-centered tribute," one user wrote on Instagram. Others questioned the necessity of bringing up political disagreements immediately after her passing, with one person stating, "Why bring up what you didn't like?"
Schroder further fueled the backlash by posting a clip of Parton endorsing the COVID-19 vaccine on his Instagram Stories, writing, "I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened."
Parton had been a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and had advocated for vaccine awareness. In a 2014 interview with Billboard, she stated, "If people want to pass judgment, they're already sinning. The sin of judging is just as bad as any other sin they might say somebody else is committing. I try to love everybody."
During the 2016 controversy surrounding North Carolina's anti-transgender "bathroom bill," Parton told CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect... I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are."
Parton also played a significant role in the fight against COVID-19, donating $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to support research for the Moderna vaccine.
Parton's representatives confirmed her death to People, stating she died after a "brief battle with cancer," though the specific type was not disclosed. She had reportedly been experiencing health issues in recent months, leading her to withdraw from public appearances. She was hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville following autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
Fellow celebrities and public figures, including Hillary Clinton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Reba McEntire, and President Donald Trump, offered tributes to Parton following the news of her death. Trump ordered American flags nationwide to be lowered for one week in her honor.
Parton, often hailed as the "Queen of Country," had a career spanning six decades, with hit songs such as "Jolene," "9 to 5," and "I Will Always Love You."