Bill Maher complained about the reaction to Dolly Parton’s death, aged 80, during a monologue on his show Real Time.
The comedian and talk-show host began the episode on Friday (28 August) by discussing current events, in particular the United State’s trade war with Canada.
“All this is going on, and all America could really talk about this week was how sad it is we lost Dolly Parton,” he said in a clip shared to X on Friday night.
Parton died on 25 August following a “brief battle” with cancer, her family announced this week.
News of her death has prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world, as fans remember her musical legacy but also her many acts of generosity, from supporting LGBT+ charities and medical research programmes to donating millions to children’s literacy.
Stars including her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, pop stars Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Sabrina Carpenter, US president Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama have been among those to pay tribute.
open image in gallery“Everyone around the country, even around the world,” has been honouring Parton, Maher said, throwing in an obvious joke about the singer’s famous chest.
“London, they’re doing things. The Santa Monica ferris wheel is lit up with hearts. The Empire State Building was put up in pink. The Sphere in Las Vegas added a nipple.”
The media has also been extensively covering the US’s trade war with Canada, including Trump’s signed order directing the federal government to call New York’s Lake Ontario “Lake America”.
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The two countries have been exchanging retaliatory measures over failed trade negotiations, with Trump reportedly considering additional tariffs or other actions in response to Canada taxing approximately $20bn in American products.
Maher follows Ricky Schroder as one of the few figures to cast a sour note on the response to Parton’s death.
open image in gallerySchroder, who played Parton’s father, Robert Lee Parton, in two biopic films based on her childhood, said he loved the “9-5” star in spite of “her advocating for Transgender & Covid Vaccine support”.
Fox Sports South Florida co-host Josh Cohen wrote in response to Schroder’s post on X: “Congratulations to former child TV actor Ricky Schroder on becoming the first person to disrespect Dolly Parton in her passing. What an absolute douche.”
Elsewhere, Parton’s music has returned to the Official Singles Chart in the UK following her death, including her hit single “Jolene”, at number nine, and “9-5” at number 12.
Close behind is “Islands In The Stream”, Parton’s 1983 duet with Kenny Rogers at number 13, with consumption up 276 per cent week-on-week.