During Friday’s episode of Real Time, Bill Maher discussed Dolly Parton’s passing in a tasteless way.
He opened his monologue by noting the week’s events, especially the U.S.–Canada trade dispute, then remarked, “All this is happening, yet the only thing America seemed to focus on this week was how tragic it is that we lost Dolly Parton.”
He observed that tributes were pouring in globally—London held ceremonies, the Santa Monica Ferris wheel glowed with hearts, the Empire State Building shone pink, and Las Vegas’ Sphere featured a nipple-shaped display.
A representative announced that Parton passed away on Tuesday following a brief battle with cancer. Her death prompted an outpouring of tributes worldwide, with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billy Ray Cyrus among those honoring her legacy.
Ricky Schroder, who played Parton’s father in two biopics about her youth, also attracted criticism. He posted online, “I didn’t support her advocacy for transgender rights and COVID‑19 vaccines, but I still loved her. Thank you for letting me be your movie dad, Dolly.”
After facing backlash, Schroder shared a clip on his Instagram Stories criticizing her COVID‑19 vaccine stance, writing, “I warned Dolly not to back the experiment. I wish she had listened.”
Fox Sports South Florida co‑host Josh Cohen replied on X, “Congrats to former child TV star Ricky Schroder for being the first to disparage Dolly Parton in her death. What a jerk.”
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