Actor Ricky Schroder is facing swift backlash after he used a tribute to the late Dolly Parton to voice his disagreement with her advocacy for transgender rights and COVID-19 vaccines, just hours after her death was announced.
Ms. Parton, the “Queen of Country Music,” died Tuesday at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from her team. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in a video posted to social media.
Mr. Schroder, 56, who played a dramatized version of Ms. Parton’s father in the 2015 TV movie “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” and its 2016 sequel, shared a photo of himself with the singer on Threads and Instagram.
In the caption, he wrote, “I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy.”
The post quickly drew criticism from fans and celebrities alike. Broadcaster Katie Couric replied with a single word — “Ick” — while comedian and pop icon Boy George wrote “Oh shut up” beneath the post. The rock band Garbage, fronted by Shirley Manson, told Mr. Schroder to “f—- off” in a reply from its official account.
Other commenters, including entertainment industry figure Brandon Frankel and author Emma Kennedy, also pushed back, with Mr. Frankel accusing the actor of ruining his own tribute. Threads user Steven Havre wrote that Mr. Schroder could have honored Ms. Parton “without using her death to remind everyone that you disapproved of her supporting trans people and vaccines.”
Ms. Parton was widely regarded as a longtime LGBTQ ally. She wrote the Oscar-nominated song “Travelin’ Thru” for the 2005 film “Transamerica” and publicly supported marriage equality years before it became law nationwide. She also donated $1 million to COVID-19 vaccine research at Vanderbilt University. Following her death, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis called her “the queen of inclusivity and philanthropy,” citing her decades of support for the LGBTQ community.
Mr. Schroder’s social media has frequently featured conservative political content. He also drew attention in 2020 for contributing $150,000 toward the $2 million bail that secured Kyle Rittenhouse’s release from jail, according to TMZ.
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