Actor Ricky Schroder used his Instagram tribute to Dolly Parton to criticize the country legend's support for transgender rights and COVID-19 vaccines, and the response was swift and harsh.
Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80 following what her representatives called a "brief battle with cancer," had barely been gone a few hours when Schroder, 56, posted a photo of himself with the singer on Instagram. The caption did not simply honor her memory. It aired a grievance.
"I didn't agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support... but Loved her anyway," Schroder wrote. "Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy." Schroder played Parton's father, Robert Lee Patton, in the 2015 TV movie Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors and its 2016 sequel.
The post drew immediate pushback from celebrities and fans alike. Journalist Katie Couric left a one-word comment, "ick", while singer Boy George replied, "Oh shut up!" Actor Jay Huguley, known for the series Lioness, wrote: "'I loved her anyway,' what a strange tribute. Good Lord."
Rather than pull back, Schroder doubled down. As criticism mounted, he posted an Instagram Stories clip showing Parton voicing her support for the COVID-19 vaccine. Beneath the clip, Schroder wrote: "I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened." He added a sad-face emoji.
Parton's connection to COVID-19 vaccine development was not casual. She donated $1 million to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help fund the research behind the Moderna vaccine. That donation became one of the most widely discussed acts of philanthropy during the pandemic. Schroder's post framed it not as generosity but as a mistake, and did so on the day Parton died.
Parton had spent five days at Vanderbilt before her death, hospitalized the previous Friday with autoimmune and kidney problems, TMZ reported. Her representatives told People magazine she died after a brief cancer battle but did not disclose the type of cancer.
Her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, posted an Instagram video confirming the death, the first public confirmation. A private service for close friends and family was expected in Nashville in the days following.
President Donald Trump paid tribute and ordered American flags lowered nationwide for one week in Parton's honor. Hillary Clinton, Reba McEntire, Sarah Jessica Parker, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, and Khloe Kardashian were among those who also offered public tributes.
There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with a public figure's political positions. Parton was open about hers. In a 2014 Billboard interview, she addressed her support for her fans directly.
"If people want to pass judgment, they're already sinning. The sin of judging is just as bad as any other sin they might say somebody else is committing. I try to love everybody."
When North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill sparked national outrage in 2016, Parton told CNN, "I think everybody should be treated with respect." She added, "I hope that everybody gets a chance to be who and what they are." Those positions were well-known throughout her six-decade career. None of them were secrets Schroder uncovered.
The backlash against Schroder was not about whether his views on vaccines or transgender policy have merit. Plenty of Americans share his skepticism on both counts. The backlash was about using a woman's death announcement as a platform to litigate those views, and doing it while claiming to honor her.
Parton had become increasingly reclusive in recent months as her health declined. Those close to her described her as secretive about the severity of her condition. She missed public appearances, including being grounded by her doctor from events that mattered deeply to her.
Schroder had not responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment at the time of publication. Fan comments continued to pile up on Instagram and Threads, most of them critical.
Parton left behind a body of work that spanned generations, and a final song locked in a Dollywood time capsule until 2045. Schroder's tribute will not be remembered alongside any of it.
You can disagree with someone's politics and still have the decency to wait a day. Schroder chose not to, and the public noticed.
