Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver fired amid threats allegations over her estate

 Dolly Parton’s estate has been plunged into a legal dispute less than a month after the death of the legendary American singer.     Parton passed away in August at the age of 80.   She’s Alive, the corporation managing Parton’s business ventures, filed a restraining order on Tuesday against Bryan Seaver, the singer’s nephew and former head of her security team.   The case was filed in the Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville, Tennessee, amid allegations that Seaver launched an escalating campaign of threats to obtain money from the country star’s $450m (£335m) estate.     According to The Telegraph, the court filing described Seaver’s security operation as “a heavily armed, paramilitary-style force” rather than a conventional office-security operation.   The filing alleged that the operation, run through Seaver’s company Squadron Augmented Protection Services, LLC (SAPS), possessed military-grade weapons and employed dozens of people.   Text messages included in the court documents reportedly showed that someone identified as Seaver threatened a business partner of Dollywood and said he would become “the hand of retribution for my entire family”.     The complaint also alleged that Seaver described himself as a “killer” in a September 3 message to one of Parton’s attorneys.   Seaver was also accused of threatening to launch a podcast aimed at damaging Parton’s business relationships.   According to the complaint, he told Danny Nozell, manager of She’s Alive, that he would create a podcast “dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships” and exposing alleged violations committed against his family.   Nozell reportedly fired Seaver on September 15.     The lawsuit further claimed that a lawyer representing Parton’s estate and trust resigned after Seaver allegedly made “harassing and ominous threats” during a phone call.   Some employees have also reportedly left their positions, while others have hired private security because of concerns arising from the dispute.   The filing said Parton had valued employing family members when they possessed skills that matched her business needs.   She’s Alive alleged that Seaver subsequently threatened the corporation’s personnel, lawyers and business partners, including vowing to “destroy the entire brand” and threatening to “ratfuck every (business party) entity”.     Seaver, however, denied that his messages amounted to threats.   In a statement to TMZ on Tuesday, he described himself as a career soldier, military contractor and security professional. He also maintained that the comments cited in the lawsuit had been taken out of context.   “I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments. I am a security professional, and I am a killer. However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by,” he said.   He said his messages to Nozell were private conversations between two people who were grieving.     “I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny, who I thought was my friend and he fancies himself a gangster. A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving,” he added.   Parton’s estate has not publicly disclosed further details about the financial dispute with Seaver.  

 Dolly Parton’s estate has been plunged into a legal dispute less than a month after the death of the legendary American singer.   Parton passed away in August at the age of 80.   She’s Alive, the corporation managing Parton’s business ventures, filed a restraining order on Tuesday against Bryan Seaver, the singer’s nephew and former head of her security team.   The case was filed in the Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville, Tennessee, amid allegations that Seaver launched an escalating campaign of threats to obtain money from the country star’s $450m (£335m) estate.     According to The Telegraph, the court filing described Seaver’s security operation as “a heavily armed, paramilitary-style force” rather than a conventional office-security operation.   The filing alleged that the operation, run through Seaver’s company Squadron Augmented Protection Services, LLC (SAPS), possessed military-grade weapons and employed dozens of people.   Text messages included in the court documents reportedly showed that someone identified as Seaver threatened a business partner of Dollywood and said he would become “the hand of retribution for my entire family”.     The complaint also alleged that Seaver described himself as a “killer” in a September 3 message to one of Parton’s attorneys.   Seaver was also accused of threatening to launch a podcast aimed at damaging Parton’s business relationships.   According to the complaint, he told Danny Nozell, manager of She’s Alive, that he would create a podcast “dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships” and exposing alleged violations committed against his family.   Nozell reportedly fired Seaver on September 15.     The lawsuit further claimed that a lawyer representing Parton’s estate and trust resigned after Seaver allegedly made “harassing and ominous threats” during a phone call.   Some employees have also reportedly left their positions, while others have hired private security because of concerns arising from the dispute.   The filing said Parton had valued employing family members when they possessed skills that matched her business needs.   She’s Alive alleged that Seaver subsequently threatened the corporation’s personnel, lawyers and business partners, including vowing to “destroy the entire brand” and threatening to “ratfuck every (business party) entity”.     Seaver, however, denied that his messages amounted to threats.   In a statement to TMZ on Tuesday, he described himself as a career soldier, military contractor and security professional. He also maintained that the comments cited in the lawsuit had been taken out of context.   “I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments. I am a security professional, and I am a killer. However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by,” he said.   He said his messages to Nozell were private conversations between two people who were grieving.   “I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny, who I thought was my friend and he fancies himself a gangster. A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving,” he added.   Parton’s estate has not publicly disclosed further details about the financial dispute with Seaver.  

Bryan Seaver, nephew of Dolly Parton has been fired (Picture: dollyparton) On August 25, Bryan Seaver announced to the world that his aunt, Dolly Parton, had died. A month later, he’s been fired from her team. The country icon died aged 80 after a ‘brief battle with cancer’, having hid her diagnosis from the vast majority of people, including family. Seaver, the son of Parton’s sister Cassie, served as the singer’s head of security for over 20 years, which he took over from his father Larry. He’s now been fired, with the Parton estate filing a lawsuit claiming he threatened to ruin the star’s brand and made threats towards employees. She’s Alive, LLC (SAL), which was designated by the Jolene singer to protect her legacy, has alleged Seaver became ’emboldened’ after her death. They’ve also filed for a temporary restraining order against him, which was granted on September 22. He worked as Parton’s head of security for 20 years (Picture: Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock) In documents obtained by People, the lawsuit claims ‘Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton’s passing. ‘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.’ According to the New York Times, the lawsuit claims he launched an ‘obscene, deliberate and escalating campaign of threats’ to seek money. The company said that Parton ‘loved and cared for her family very deeply’, with plenty of family members employed over the years. Seaver was the one to announce the icon’s death in a video, which he revealed she had asked him to do ‘years ago’. ‘I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,’ he said. ‘It is an honour. An honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.’ Seaver is accused of making threats to staff members (Picture: Raymond Hall/GC Images) The lawsuit claims that in the weeks leading up to her death and those following, he made threats to ‘inflict reputational and economic harm’ on those entrusted with her legacy. He also reportedly threatened to smear the brand and made ‘threats of real-world violence’ to her staff, partners, legal and business advisors. This is what they state led to his termination, which he previously said was ‘unexpected’ and ‘unexplained’. ‘As the entity entrusted by Ms. Parton to protect and promote her life’s work for future generations, SAL must cultivate a safe work environment for employees, advisors, and partners, free from intimidation or hostility—particularly intimidation by an armed former security contractor,’ one of the filings said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘Without relief, Defendants’ calculated campaign will continue to inflict fear, to destabilise SAL’s operations, and to cause further irreparable harm.’ While he has not responded to the lawsuit’s claims publicly, Seaver’s team previously told TMZ they were ‘dismayed’ by his termination. ‘We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill 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.’ He allegedly said he was ‘a killer’ (Picture: Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File) The outlet claimed that after his firing, replacement security took over her Nashville main residence, her museum, warehouse, and downtown home. Seaver was let go in a letter, which TMZ revealed excerpts from, that had asked him and his security team to ‘peaceably vacate the Properties at once’. He and his company were ‘formally dismissed and terminated’ and told ‘he’s not to be on any of Dolly’s properties, effective immediately.’ The letter also noted that co-trustees would be in contact ‘in the near future’ regarding his position as a beneficiary. It said the decision was made by the DP Dean Trust Group for ‘the protection of the Trust and beneficiaries as a whole.’ Metro has reached out to Seaver for comment. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source