Dolly Parton‘s sister Stella is speaking out to address the rampant AI misinformation and “insensitivity” she’s seen online as their family grieves the iconic country singer’s death.
On Friday (September 4), about a week and a half after Dolly‘s passing, Stella published a statement addressing the support the family has received and the behavior that has made grieving more difficult.
Stella, who is Dolly‘s younger sister and a singer-songwriter in her own right, thanked fans offering “‘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,” she continued, “every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.”
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Stella‘s comment emphasized that while they might be public figures, their grief is just like anyone else’s, which is why the rampant AI misinformation and insensitivity she’s seen online is all the more troubling.
She addressed how their public lives have exposed them to pressure from strangers along with an onslaught of AI material and other online “garbage,” adding that the “tremendous amount” has made it hard to ignore or absorb.
She criticized those who are using this somber time to exploit Dolly‘s death for engagement and predicted those accounts would eventually move on to another misinformation cycle.
“My big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love her family and she has been shown during this time. She loved her fans and the public in general. That is the reason she chose not to express her opinions on a lot of things like politics, religion and individuals in the public eye,” Stella said.
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Stella asks people to follow Dolly’s example
She went on to ask for more compassion and wisdom, encouraging her follows to use Dolly‘s life as an example of tolerance and respect.
“It’s not about the most clever comments, fake AI garbage or snarky tweets,” she wrote.
At the end of her statement, Stella said she never tried to be Dolly and always maintained her own personality. She intends to continue expressing her opinions regardless of how strangers respond.
She concluded by wishing her follows a safe weekend.
Dolly died at the age of 80 on August 25. A representative from her team said she had faced a brief battle with cancer, though the specific kind of cancer has not been disclosed. Her family’s official statement emphasized her music, philanthropy, compassion, and resilience.
If you didn’t see, here’s how many stars reacted to the news of Dolly‘s death.
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