Dolly Parton’s sister has spoken out against some of the recent social media posts that have followed the country icon’s passing, which she says have been difficult to tolerate.
Stella Parton, 77, slammed the “tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage” on social media in the wake of the death of her sister Dolly Parton. The “Jolene” singer died Aug. 25 after a brief battle with cancer, her estate said in a statement.
“Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers,” Stella Parton, a country singer and songwriter herself, wrote in an Sept. 4 Instagram post. “There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.”
Stella Parton condemned “those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others,” adding that those individuals will “move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation.”
Dolly Parton died “at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her estate said. She was preceded in death by five of her 11 siblings, who were raised in the Appalachia region of rural Tennessee by parents Robert and Avie Lee Parton, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Stella Parton is among her six living brothers and sisters.
In her Instagram post, Stella Parton thanked those who showed the family “‘genuine’ support and love during this time of our family bereavement.”
“We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way,” Stella Parton wrote. “Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.”
She also wrote that her sister would be “surprised and delighted” by the love that her family has been shown amid their mourning.
Stella Parton additionally praised Dolly Parton’s openness and positive influence.
“Her heart was so big and tender toward anyone who felt, as she often felt as a child,” Stella Parton wrote of her sister. “The feeling of being told you were less than, undeserving or insignificant were deep wounds on all of us as children.”
Criticizing some of the negative comments that have arisen amid the family’s journey with grief, Stella Parton called on fans to “show more compassion and wisdom as we move forward in life.”
“Use my sister’s life as an example for tolerance and respect toward others,” she wrote. “It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets.”
Stella Parton added: “At the end of the day or the end of a life, how will you feel about yourself?”
“It’s not about what other individuals you will never meet think of you!” she wrote.
Stella Parton is among the family members of many late celebrities who have spoken out against the use of AI-generated images in tributes. Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda Williams also slammed the creation of deepfakes of the actor’s likeness. Robin Williams died by suicide in 2014 at age 63 while suffering from Lewy body dementia.
“If you’re just trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse, I’ll restrict and move on. But please, if you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop,” Zelda Williams previously wrote in her Instagram stories.
While Stella Parton has been vocal about some of the negativity that has followed Dolly Parton’s passing, she has also taken to social media to remember the beautiful aspects of her sister’s life.
In an Aug. 27 social media post, Stella Parton called the “Islands In the Stream” singer “one of the most generous, thoughtful and kind people I’ve ever known,” adding, “What the world saw is exactly who she was.”
“Show more kindness, lift others up and give more of your time and resources as she continued to do to the very end,” she wrote.