Dolly Parton’s estate is suing her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, along with requesting a restraining order against him. According to Pitchfork, when Parton died from cancer last month, Seaver was the family member tasked with revealing the news to the public. However, last week he was fired from his role as head of security for Parton’s properties, with the restraining order seeking to prevent Seaver from interfering with Parton’s businesses and their partners, and to keep him 1,000 feet away from the offices. These actions coincide with Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager, accusing Seaver of an “obscene” and “escalating campaign of threats” with the intention of extorting from the estate after Parton’s death. The lawsuit claims that Seaver wrote an email stating “I’m a killer,” to one of Parton’s lawyers, along with writing, “I’m going to ratf**k every entity I can possibly conjure.” Allegedly, Seaver also wrote an email to Nozell where he stated, “I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary. All I do is warfare. Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.” 

When addressing these comments, Seaver told TMZ that his messages had been taken out of context. “I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments,” he said, according to TMZ. “I am a security professional and I am a killer,” adding, “However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.” When addressing the “ratf**k” comment, he stated that this was “about specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her.” The estate claims members of Parton’s staff have already resigned because of Seaver’s threats.