Country music legend Dolly Parton may be universally considered a gem, but her younger sister Stella has recently come under fire on social media for a series of increasingly outlandish posts that have been seen as racist.
Stella Parton, who is also a country music singer and songwriter, is very active on Twitter, often posting about national issues and state politics in Tennessee, where she lives. Much of her activism for women and criticism of Trump Republicans gained notoriety among progressives, who were quite shocked by the seemingly anti-black rants the singer began in February.
“I once had a neighbor/white guy steal the mail from my box and forge my checks that I used to pay my monthly bills. The police did nothing. How racist is that? These are human rights,” Parton published on February 23, which appears to discredit persistent racism in police departments. “We all have rights and when someone violates your human rights it is a crime against you!”
“There were three white police officers who violated my human rights in my home,” she said followed. “Does that make me racist too?”
In another tweet thread that day, Parton condemned so-called reverse discrimination.
“There’s a hell of a lot of reverse discrimination in this country, too,” she said wrote.
“When was the last time Black people included or stood up for Indigenous/Native American people in this country?” Parton he asked. “In America, it’s all me me me mentality. Not all white people are evil and from my point of view I don’t accept that charge. Many of us believe in equality for all.
That’s when other social media users chimed in, blasting Parton’s claims. But Dolly’s younger sister didn’t back down, instead delving into the death of Tier Nichols, critical race theory and illegal immigration — before claiming that white people were really the victims.
“In Memphis, Tennessee, five black cops in a (special) squad beat and kill a young innocent black child for no reason. They lied and said he was driving recklessly. In total, the fired police officers were seven, all black,” Parton tweeted. “Was this a racial crime or an evil run m [sic]? Black comedians get up… and joke about using the N word, but white people can’t use it. They think it’s funny. How will this improve things? Some white people are trying to make things better, but how about a little help? You have a platform, use it for good, not for invention [sic].”
The chaos didn’t end there. On February 24, Parton had a strange outburst “two little black children” in Baltimore, who allegedly stole a car with Dolly Parton’s toilet license plates, then apparently hit critical race theory for allegedly focusing too much on black history and questioned statues of Confederate leaders collapses.
The Tennessee native also used a little fender bender to express anti-immigrant views.
Then on February 26, she whined about white people being made to feel like victims.
“Drugs, greed, ego and more hate in all echelons of our society is the problem, but let’s blame it all on white people because it has to be someone’s fault,” she wrote in a long thread. “No one else will dare to look at himself. Everyone is guilty of prejudice, bigotry, misogyny, racism, ageism, elitism.
On March 1, Parton ironically recommended the book Race-Baiter by Eric Diggans.
Social media users were quick to call Parton out, explaining how she misses the mark when it comes to racial justice.
“@StellaParton reverse racism is not a thing, white people have never been victims of systemic racism,” one fan tweeted. “Also, punishing black Americans for not doing enough to support the people that white Americans committed genocide against is an obscene act.” So disappointed and unfollowed.”
“I followed @StellaParton and believed she was EVERYONE’s ally,” another social media user wrote. “However, her recent spate of hateful, racist tweets was such a huge disappointment and so out of character – I sincerely hoped she had been hacked. When I found out it was her, I couldn’t unfollow fast enough.”
Others accused Parton of blocking them after they tried to engage in meaningful conversation.
Parton claims her account has been hacked several times in the past month, but she’s never clarified which tweets — other than those offering relationship advice — weren’t actually hers.
Meanwhile, Dolly came out in support of Black Lives Matter and donated funds from Whitney Houston’s performance of “I Will Always Love You” to the black community in Nashville.
In a statement to The Daily Beast about the allegations of racism, Stella Parton said her social media followers know she is a staunch supporter of equality, black lives matter, women’s rights, reproductive rights, religious freedom and children.
“All humanity is entitled to equal justice, respect and freedom,” she wrote in an email. “I always felt that way, even before I grew up in the sixties. My mother taught us that all mankind is equal in the eyes of the Creator.
She said her views were not dictated by politics but by “human rights”.
“I am not responsible for how and what people say and do on social media,” she added. “I am only responsible for myself.”
Representatives for Dolly did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.
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