Dolly Parton’s sister Stella Parton has spoken out against the wave of online misinformation and “fake AI garbage” surrounding the country icon’s death.
The 77-year-old star shared an emotional message on Instagram, asking internet users to show greater kindness and compassion as her family grieves.
Stella dropped two slides of a typed letter, saying, “We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way. Sadly, because of the way our lives have been in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers.”
She continued, There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted every day and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”
Stella noted that Dolly deeply valued her fans and the public, prompting the country icon to steer clear of publicly expressing her opinions on politics, religion and other public figures.
She mentioned, “She knew as well as anyone what a negative vortex that could turn into which is nothing but a huge waste of positive energy.”
Stell urged her 123,000 followers to use her sister’s life as an example of “tolerance and respect,” adding that “fake AI garbage” and snarky comments matter less than how people feel about themselves in the end.
To note, the post came after Parton's death was confirmed in an Instagram video posted on August 25 by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver.
She passed away after being admitted on August 21 to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
Days before her death, the Jolene singer spoke about her plans for a new Nashville hotel and museum, saying she had “so many things” she wanted to achieve.
In the wake of Dolly’s passing, Gov. Bill Lee and Nashville International Airport officials have moved to honor her by naming the airport after her.
