Ricky Schroder has faced fierce criticism after using a tribute to Dolly Parton, who died at 80 on August 25, to highlight political and personal disagreements he had with the country music legend.

Schroder, 56, shared a photograph of himself with Parton on Instagram shortly after news of her death broke. Rather than keeping the message focused solely on remembering his former co-star, he referred to her support for transgender people and COVID-19 vaccines.

“I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway,” Schroder wrote, before thanking Parton for choosing him to play her “Movie Daddy.”

The post quickly drew criticism online, with many fans arguing that the political references were inappropriate in a tribute published so soon after Parton’s death. The controversy has since been reported by multiple outlets.

+10

View gallery

Dolly Parton’s co-star Ricky Schroder, 56, sparked outrage among fans over his ‘disrespectful’ tribute to the country legend, who died on Tuesday at the age of 80

+10

View gallery

The actor has been getting severe criticism over a ‘foul’ Instagram remembrance post, where he took a swipe at Parton’s politics just hours after the news of her death broke. Above, in 2015

‘I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway. Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy,’ he wrote in the tribute

Schroder’s tribute immediately draws criticism

The actor’s post was met with a wave of negative reactions on Instagram and Threads.

Some users accused Schroder of turning a remembrance of Parton into a statement about himself, while others objected specifically to his comments about transgender rights and vaccines.

Katie Couric responded simply with “ick”, while Boy George wrote: “Oh shut up!”

Other commenters questioned why Schroder had chosen to mention views he disagreed with at a moment when fans and fellow performers were mourning Parton’s death.

One person wrote that he could have honored Parton without using her death to emphasize their political differences.

Another described the message as a “backhanded tribute”, while others called it “tone deaf” and “foul”.

The backlash was not limited to one social media platform. Reports noted that criticism spread across Instagram and Threads as users continued debating the appropriateness of Schroder’s message.

The Daily Mail reported that it contacted Schroder for comment but had not received a response.

+10

View gallery

Schroder also posted a clip of Parton sharing her support for the COVID-19 vaccine and wrote: ‘I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened [sad face emoji]’

+10

View gallery

Fans in the comments called the move deeply insensitive, as they lambasted Schroder’s ‘transphobic and anti-vaccine’ post

He followed the post with another message about vaccines

The controversy intensified when Schroder subsequently shared an Instagram Stories clip of Parton discussing her support for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Alongside the footage, he wrote: “I warned Dolly to not support the Experiment. Wished she listened [sad face emoji].”

That second post prompted further criticism from people who accused the actor of continuing to use Parton’s death to promote his own views.

Schroder’s comments about vaccines were particularly notable because Parton had played a role in supporting COVID-19 vaccine research.

In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, helping fund research that contributed to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

+10

View gallery

Schroder played Parton’s father in the bio TV movies Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (2015) and Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2016)

+10

View gallery

Parton was outspoken about her support for the transgender community and her COVID-19 vaccine advocacy

Why Schroder and Parton knew each other

Despite their political differences, Schroder and Parton had a professional relationship dating back more than a decade.

Schroder portrayed Robert Lee Parton, Dolly’s father, in the television films Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors in 2015 and Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love in 2016.

The films explored Parton’s childhood and family life and gave Schroder the opportunity to work directly with the singer.

His tribute referenced that relationship when he thanked Parton for choosing him to play her father.

That personal connection made the tone of his tribute particularly striking to some fans, who argued that he could have focused on their shared work and memories instead of highlighting political disagreements.

+10

View gallery

Parton died on Tuesday following a ‘brief battle with cancer

+10

View gallery

The singer, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades. Above, in 1977

Parton was outspoken about inclusion

Dolly Parton had publicly expressed support for LGBTQ+ people throughout her career.

In a 2014 interview with Billboard, she discussed her approach to her LGBTQ+ fans and emphasized the importance of treating people with compassion rather than judgment.

She also spoke out during the controversy surrounding North Carolina’s 2016 legislation concerning transgender people and said that everyone should be treated with respect.

Her public image was often built around kindness, inclusion and compassion, making her views on these issues a notable part of the discussion surrounding Schroder’s post.

Parton also championed vaccine research

Parton’s support for COVID-19 vaccine research became one of the most significant examples of her philanthropy during the pandemic.

Her $1 million donation to Vanderbilt University Medical Center helped support research connected to the Moderna vaccine.

The donation became another reason Schroder’s comments about her vaccine support attracted attention following her death.

However, Parton’s legacy extends far beyond her positions on either issue.

Dolly Parton’s death leaves music world mourning

Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80 after what her team described as a brief battle with cancer.

Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who shared the news in a video posted on social media. Her representatives later confirmed the cause of death to PEOPLE.

The news prompted an extraordinary outpouring of tributes from musicians, actors, politicians and fans around the world.

Miley Cyrus, Parton’s goddaughter, shared an emotional tribute, while artists including Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and many others remembered the singer.

Actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who worked with Parton on 9 to 5, also paid tribute to their longtime friend and co-star.

Parton’s career had lasted roughly six decades and produced some of country music’s most recognizable songs, including “Jolene”, “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You”.

Her influence extended well beyond music through acting, business and philanthropy, including the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library literacy program.

A tribute controversy overshadowing a moment of mourning

The reaction to Schroder’s post has become one of the more contentious side stories surrounding Parton’s death.

Many fans were not objecting to Schroder having different political views from Parton. Instead, they questioned the decision to foreground those disagreements in a public message immediately following her death.

The criticism has also highlighted the contrast between Parton’s public reputation for compassion and the tone some readers perceived in Schroder’s tribute.

For now, Schroder has not publicly indicated that he intends to retract or substantially revise the comments.

As tributes continue to pour in for Parton, the controversy has nevertheless ensured that Schroder’s remembrance became a subject of intense discussion — even as the wider entertainment world focuses on celebrating the life and legacy of the woman he once portrayed on screen.