Dolly Parton's nephew fires back against restraining order

Dolly Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security is denying allegations that he "menaced and intimidated" Parton’s employees and threatened to destroy his aunt’s legacy. 

Bryan Seaver’s version of what happened after his aunt’s death was detailed in court documents as a court weighs whether to make a restraining order against Seaver permanent. 

Why was Bryan Seaver fired? 

The backstory:

According to court documents reviewed by The Associated Press, She’s Alive, the entity that manages Parton’s businesses, claimed Seaver threatened to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire. 

She’s Alive claimed Seaver, who was handpicked by Parton to announce her death, sent increasingly threatening messages in the weeks following Parton’s death. She’s Alive is run by Danny Nozell, Parton’s longtime manager. 

RELATED: Judge grants restraining order against Dolly Parton’s nephew over alleged threats

She’s Alive terminated Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services, Seaver’s company that provided Parton’s security detail, saying his "terrorizing conduct made their continued retention untenable," according to court documents.

What they're saying:

Court documents include text messages and emails reportedly sent by Seaver starting just before Parton’s death. The messages begin with threats to destroy the brand, and then after her death, depict Seaver reveling in his newfound fame and calling himself an "international arms dealer."

"I’m going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. It’s going to be great. Or f——— pay me," he allegedly wrote. 

Bryan Seaver responds

The other side:

In an affidavit opposing the restraining order becoming permanent, Seaver said text messages cited as evidence against him were a "private conversation between two friends who were both frustrated, grieving and discussing strategy."

Seaver said he and Nozell were close friends before the restraining order. He also denied sending threatening messages to any of Parton’s businesses or business partners or their employees.

Seaver’s court filing says Nozell did not react with alarm to his text messages at the time and that he agreed with or reacted positively to some of them. Seaver says Nozell encouraged him to publicly tout the military and arms aspect of his security company as a smart business-promotion move, then turned around and used them as evidence of Seaver’s capacity for dangerous violence.

Seaver said he was blindsided by the order, which was granted while he was doing contract security work in Haiti.

Seaver said his anger and the demand were only over more than $250,000 that his company was owed for completed work by Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates Parton’s amusement park Dollywood and her Songteller Hotel, which opened after her death.

What's next:

Both sides will make their case at a hearing on Oct. 20, nearly two months after Parton’s death. 

Parton was one of the world’s most beloved celebrities. She died Aug. 25 after a "brief battle with cancer."

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