Dolly Parton’s longtime co-star Ricky Schroder has sparked fierce backlash over a tribute to the late country music legend, with critics branding the post “disrespectful.”
The 56-year-old actor has faced heavy backlash over a “foul” Instagram tribute in which he criticized Parton’s politics just hours after her death.
The post featured a photo of him with the Jolene singer, along with the caption, “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 called Schroder’s remembrance “deeply insensitive” after he posted remarks described as “transphobic and anti-vaccine,” despite his past role as Parton’s onscreen father.
Journalist Katie Couric simply wrote “ick” while singer Boy George quipped, “Oh shut up!”
Schroder responded to the backlash by sharing a clip of Parton voicing her support for COVID-19 vaccination.
Underneath, he wrote, “I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened [sad face emoji].”
Fans flooded the comments on Instagram and Threads with criticism, as one wrote, “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.”
“‘I loved her anyway’ what a strange tribute. Good Lord,” Lioness star Jay Huguley wrote.
“Imagine being the first (and probably only) person in the whole world to post something negative about Dolly. NOT COOL,” yet another fan wrote.
One fan noted, “What a backhanded tribute. Yuck.”
Dolly Parton death
Notably, on August 25, reps for the country star confirmed her death at 80 on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer.”
The type of cancer was not disclosed.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, also announced the news in an Instagram video the same day.
She was admitted to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville on Friday, August 21.
