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Howard Stern, the reason why many people subscribe to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI), has upset country legend Dolly Parton.The singer is madder than a rattlesnake trying to bite a fencepost at the self-styled King of All Media for splicing together audio segments that made it appear that she was saying nasty things about celebrities including Kenny Rogers, Linda Rondstadt, Burt Reynolds and Johnny Carson, according to the Associated Press.
In a statement posted on her Web site, the singer/songwriter said she had never been so "shocked, hurt and humiliated in my life...Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this. If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it's going to be over this."
I am sure that any lawyer Parton contacts -- or an law student for that matter -- will tell the writer of "I will always love you" that she doesn't have a snowball's chance of prevailing against Stern. The First Amendment gives performers the right to say vile things about celebrities in what is obviously a parody. Remember Jerry Falwell's fight against Hustler magazine which he lost in the Supreme Court? The same concept applies here.
Parton also seems to be getting some bad public relations advice.
Had she just ignored the bit, most people would have probably simply forgotten about it and Stern would have moved onto his next victim. By picking a fight with Stern, she is creating a publicity gold mine for the "shock jock" and his boss Sirius Chief Executive Mel Karmazin. This also is good news for Sirius shareholders because it shows that Stern is worth every penny that the company pays him.
If Parton really wanted revenge on Stern, she should hire some comedy writers and sound engineers and splice together sound bytes from the author of "Private Parts" that make him look stupid. I am sure it would annoy Stern but like Parton there would be nothing he could do about it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-28-2008 @ 12:08PM
zOOK said...
SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE MEDIA. THEY GET AWAY WITH DISSING WOMEN ALL THE TIME.
SOMEDAY THEY WILL ALL BE OUT OF WORK BECAUSE OF A DEPRESSION CAUSED BY THE INCOMPETANT MEN THEY ARE SUPPORTING FOR PRESIDENT
5-17-2008 @ 1:55PM
Ann said...
I realize that Freedom of Speech has a place in this country. There is a huge difference between freedom of personal speech and putting words in someone else's mouth.
5-17-2008 @ 1:54PM
MikeW said...
Ann, zOOK,
You two need to lighten up...maybe take a trip to DollyWood or something.
Ann, you sound out of touch....may I guess that you are over 50?
zOOK, you typed your whole message in Capital letters, so your internet privileges should be revoked.
That said, other people Stern has done this to include William Shatner, George Takei, and the former "leader of the free world" Bill Clinton. With Clinton's book, they really chopped up some offensive/hilarious stuff! Yet he didn't sue, nor did it make media coverage because he ignored it. (Meanwhile Shatner and Takei have been ON the show, laughing at the bits).
That's because it's a PARODY. If you want to censor this, then you might as well censor Saturday Night Live, and any other sketch comedy show that "parodies" politicians/actors/etc. There's no difference (Maybe there is in the language, but that is why Stern is on pay radio now, and not free terrestrial radio...no censorship)
Lighten up guys. Or even better, Google for the clip and listen to it. You may find yourself laughing at the absurdity of it (God forbid!)
5-17-2008 @ 1:30PM
Banker said...
I second that Mike W....
Well put!
I Love comedy :)
5-17-2008 @ 1:35PM
Griff said...
Well said MikeW !
Personally, I think Dolly is the one benefitting from all of this. Who knew she had written a book? Now because of Howard, a lot of people now know about her book. She should be thankful!