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Dolly Parton declined to work with a businessman on one project. He did not respond well to the rejection.
Few people would describe Dolly Parton as “mean-spirited,” but a businessman once went on a public campaign to do just that. In the ’90s, Parton’s team was in contact with a Florida businessman who wanted to partner with the singer on a series. When talks fell apart, he took out advertisements to get her attention.
A businessman publicly disparaged Dolly Parton
In the ’90s, Parton’s team received a pitch from a businessman for a series of “muffin-like” characters who lived in “Muffkinville.” Per the book Smart Blonde by Stephen Miller, he wanted to partner with Parton on a series in which she sang with them. Parton’s team took several meetings with the man, but ultimately decided to pass on the idea. At the time, Parton was working on an animated series of her own.
In response, the businessman took out thousands of dollars’ worth of ads to get Parton’s attention. When this didn’t work, he lashed out.
“When you see these great performers, you get these great images … I by no means say that Dolly has to do the project,” he said.” But it’s uncharacteristic for a performer to treat me in the mean-spirited way that I’ve been treated.”
He also alleged that the prototypes of the characters he sent to Parton’s team were damaged. He then took out an advertisement seeking compensation.
“Someone has to make amends,” he wrote in the ad, “don’t just continue to sing about it, please do it: put a little love in your heart, spare me but a few minutes of your precious time.”
While Parton didn’t comment on the matter, her lawyer did.
“What can one say about a nuisance … I consider it a non-issue,” he said. “I consider it bad form and a form of publicity seeking and harassment. Dolly is too much of a lady to respond to any of this. We’re not going to respond to silliness.”
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