Dolly Parton's nephew brands restraining order 'a publicity stunt' after firing
Bryan Seaver, the nephew of Dolly Parton who announced her death last month, has responded after being fired as head of security for the Jolene singer's properties.
Dolly Parton's nephew has hit out at his firing over what he's described as "contrived threats".
Bryan Seaver, who announced the country icon's death in a video message last month, has been sacked as head of security for the late singer's properties after almost two decades in the role, and now She's Alive - the company created by Dolly to protect her affairs after her passing - has had a temporary restraining order against him granted.
Responding to the lawsuit, Bryan told ABC News in a statement: "The restraining order is spurious and simply a publicity stunt."
He confirmed he has been fired, but added: "I was fired.
"After the estate negotiated with me and my company for services in perpetuity and agreed to that service provision from my company
"A week later they fired me for these contrived 'threats.'"
In documents obtained by PEOPLE magazine, it's alleged Bryan began a "campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing"
They filing continued: "In writing, he vowed to ‘destroy the entire brand’ and also told her entertainment attorney: “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.' "
In response, Bryan has denied the allegations, and insisted his text has been taken "out of context".
He added: "Dolly called me her killer. It was a joke we used around her camp.
"I was her 'baby boy ninja' and Danny Nozell took that text out of context to somehow imagine that I was threatening him. He’s always called me The Killer."
The documents noted Dolly “loved and cared for her family very deeply,” and felt strongly about employing members of her family who could fit with business needs, but in the weeks leading up to and after her death, Bryan allegedly launched a “campaign of threats, intimidation and coercion” and vowed to “inflict reputational and economic harm” on those tasked with protecting her legacy, including by launching a podcast specifically to ruin any brand partnerships unless he was paid.
He has been accused of making “threats of real-world violence” to staff, leading to his termination.
Bryan insisted he "never threatened anyone", adding: "They are my friends and my brothers and colleagues."
Following the news of his dismissal, Bryan and his team previously told TMZ they are "dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions" following Dolly's death.
They added: "We remain unshakably resolved to fulfil her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much."
