Dolly Parton's nephew speaks out after being served restraining order

Bryan Seaver, Dolly Parton's nephew and former longtime head of security, is speaking out after being served with a temporary restraining order by his late aunt's estate. 

Seaver, who was dismissed from his security role on September 15 after more than two decades, called the order a "publicity stunt" in an interview with ABC News.

Legal documents say the restraining order stems from messages Seaver allegedly sent that included references to weapons dealing and violent language. 

Seaver defended the comments, explaining that Parton used to jokingly call him her "killer," a nickname he says was part of an ongoing joke within her inner circle. He claims Parton's manager, Danny Nozell, misinterpreted private messages sent during an emotional period after her death.

“Dolly called me her killer. It was a joke we used around her camp,” he said. “I was her ‘baby boy ninja’ and [Parton’s manager] Danny Nozell took that text out of context to somehow imagine that I was threatening him. He’s always called me The Killer.”

The estate's legal filing alleges Seaver used his background as a military contractor to intimidate the company managing Parton's business interests, She's Alive, LLC, which Nozell oversees. 

The filing claims Seaver's behaviour created a hostile and unsafe environment, which led to several employees, including Parton's estate attorney, resigning.

Seaver pushed back on the allegations, insisting he never threatened anyone and describing the individuals involved as close friends and colleagues. 

“I’ve never threatened anyone,” he said. “They are my friends and my brothers and colleagues.”

In a separate statement to TMZ, he acknowledged his background as a security professional working in arms deals for foreign governments, but maintained that his comments were part of private, emotional conversations between grieving friends rather than genuine threats.

“I am a security professional and I am a killer,” he said. “However, nothing in his lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by. I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny who I thought was my friend ... A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.” 

The filing also alleges Seaver threatened to launch a podcast aimed at damaging Parton's brand partnerships.

Seaver was the one who publicly announced Parton's death on August 25.