Fans of Dolly Parton have defended the late country music icon after comedian Bill Maher joked about her death during his HBO talk show.
Parton’s death was announced last Tuesday, 25 August, in an emotional video shared by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver. The singer, who had kept her health struggles private, died after a brief battle with cancer.
US President Donald Trump announced that flags would be flown at half-mast for a week in honour of the legendary “Jolene” singer.
Worldwide tributes to Dolly Parton
Tributes to Parton have been held across the world. The King’s Guard performed her hit song “9 to 5” outside Buckingham Palace, a gesture Maher referenced in his opening monologue on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, 28 August.
However, many viewers criticised the joke Maher made while welcoming the audience to his show, calling it insensitive and in poor taste.
After referring to the United States’ trade war with Canada and the conflict in Iran, Maher said:
“All this is going on and all America could really talk about this week was how sad it is that we lost Dolly Parton,”
He continued:
“Everybody around the country, even around the world — [in] London they’re doing things.
Maher then referred to tributes in the United States:
“The Santa Monica Ferris wheel is lit up with hearts. The Empire State Building was put up in pink,”
He added:
“The Sphere in Las Vegas added a nipple.”
The joke received some laughter from the studio audience, but Parton’s fans took to social media to make clear that they did not find it amusing.
Author Tara Dublin wrote on X:
“Mocking our grief over losing Dolly Parton is just more proof that Trumpsimp @billmaher is a soulless ghoul who wants his own Maher-A-Lago.”
Jason Levin, founder of Memelord.com, also criticised Maher, writing:
“Bill Maher trying to get edgy about Dolly Parton is wild.”
“Buddy, you’re not ‘telling hard truths’, you’re just the guy who looked at a national treasure and said, ‘How can I make this about my bitterness?’”
Another viewer said:
“After America’s beloved country singing Angel passed, he has to be a complete d**k about it? We LOVED Dolly Parton, THAT is why it was big news.
The viewer continued:
“She was kind, generous, and didn’t attack our most vulnerable communities, unlike YOU, Bill Maher. @HBO, WHY does he still have a show? Who the hell still watches him?”
A fourth critic added:
“We can always count on Bill Maher to say something utterly stupid and in the worst taste possible!”
Other viewers defended Maher’s comments, suggesting the joke was not intended to be taken seriously. One person claimed that Parton would probably have ‘laughed at the joke’.
Maher was not the only public figure to face criticism after Parton’s death. Her former co-star Ricky Schroder also drew backlash after mentioning disagreements with some of her views in a tribute post on Instagram.
Schroder wrote:
“I didnt [sic] agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support… but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy.”
He later doubled down on the comments in a follow-up post, despite receiving widespread criticism and being branded ‘insensitive’ by Parton’s supporters.
Source: www.ladbible.com
