‘NYPD Blue’ Star Ricky Schroder’s Transphobic Dolly Parton Tribute Ignites Backlash
What To Know
- Ricky Schroder posted an Instagram tribute to Dolly Parton that included criticism of her support for transgender rights and vaccines.
- Many followers condemned Schroder’s message as insensitive and inappropriate.
- Schroder, known for his role in NYPD Blue. widespread criticism for making his tribute conditional and politicized.
NYPD Blue star Ricky Schroder posted a tribute to Dolly Parton that ignited backlash for transphobia and anti-vaccine rhetoric.
On August 25, Schroder — who played Parton’s father, Robert Lee Patton, in the TV biopics Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (2015) and Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2016) — took to Instagram with a post honoring the late “Queen of Country.” Parton died at 80 on August 25, after a “brief battle with cancer.”
“I didnt agree with her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support…but Loved her anyway,” he captioned the update. “Thank you for choosing me Dolly to be your Movie Daddy.”
Schroder featured a photo of himself and Parton, both wearing black, and smiling at an event.
View this post on Instagram
In the comments, an overwhelming number of followers called out Schroder for his tribute that led with his opposition to transgender people and COVID-19 vaccines.
One Instagram user wrote, “Just when I thought there was no one lower than our current president, you just took the cake. How can anything say anything tacky about Dolly? One of the most loving people ever. Something you could use more of. You’re in my prayers, Ricky.”
Another shared, “Imagine being the first (and probably only) person in the whole world to post something negative about Dolly. NOT COOL.”
Someone else proclaimed, “In a world full of Rickys, be a Dolly,” as a fourth commenter noted, “If your condolences or apologies are conditional with a ‘but….’, they are not sincere.”
A different Instagram user pointed out, “‘I loved her anyway.’ What a strange tribute. Good Lord,” as another echoed, “Dolly gave the world grace; Ricky gave her a tribute with terms and conditions.”
Meanwhile, yet another follower declared, “Thanks for reminding me that she’s a much better person than you’ll ever be.”
Schroder is known for playing Detective Danny Sorenson in NYPD Blue from 1998 to 2001. His other TV credits include Silver Spoons, 24, Strong Medicine, and Scrubs. Schroder is also known for film roles in The Champ (1979), The Earthling (1980), and Black Cloud (2004), among others.
Conversation5 Comments
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R
There is a time and a place for things to be said and what he said was NOT the right time nor the right place.
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G
Ricky who?
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J
And with regard to Mr. Schroder's comments, I think the band Garbage summed it up pretty well.
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M
People say things on the internet all of the time that others don't like. I don't understand why people feel the need to respond to his comments. He feels the way he feels, it is what it is. If people ignored his comments, they would just fade away into nothing. But for some reason, people who have far too much time on their hands, and spend far too much time on the internet, in particular social media, feel the need to impulsively emotionally respond. And as a result, elevate his comments at the same time that they are trashing his comments. Schroder had to know what he was saying, and what kind of responses he would get, and a bunch of over emotional social media junkies took the bait. They were easily manipulated, they should have known better, but they allowed their emotions to get in the way. When emotions get in the way, common sense goes out the window.
Children aren't the only ones who should be spending less time in the social media world, and more time in the real world.
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J
And so YOU felt you needed to take the time to admonish them. Responding to THEIR comments. So sad.
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