Seaver owns a company that provided Parton’s security detail and publicly announced her death from cancer last month.
Dolly Parton’s estate is accusing the country music icon’s nephew of threatening violence and seeking to destroy her legacy and business empire, according to court filings reviewed by The Associated Press.
She’s Alive LLC, the entity overseeing Parton’s business interests, asked a Nashville judge Tuesday for a temporary restraining order against Bryan Seaver that would keep him away from its employees and business dealings.
Seaver owns a company that provided Parton’s security detail and publicly announced her death from cancer last month. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The filing alleges Seaver sent increasingly threatening messages in recent weeks. She’s Alive terminated Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, last week, saying his alleged “terrorizing conduct” made their continued employment untenable.
The court filing includes text messages and emails that She’s Alive says Seaver sent beginning shortly before Parton’s death. The company alleges the messages escalated from threats to damage Parton’s brand to statements in which Seaver referred to himself as an “international arms dealer.”
In a Sept. 1 message included in the filing, Seaver allegedly wrote that he would create a podcast to “ruin” Parton’s brand partnerships unless he was paid.
The complaint also alleges Seaver invoked past work for private military contractors overseas as part of the threats. She’s Alive said the messages prompted Parton’s trusts-and-estates attorney to leave and some employees to resign, while the company hired private security for employees, including at their homes.
The requested restraining order would bar Seaver from contacting or coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys and business partners. It would also prohibit him from interfering with the company’s business relationships.
