Dolly Parton knows a thing or two about flaunting fake … er, “assets.”
Her alleged TikTok, however, isn’t one of them.
Fans of the beloved 75-year-old country icon were thrilled to see the Grammy Hall of Famer and “Run, Rose, Run” co-author on the video-sharing platform, where she purportedly offered a message of hope to viewers, telling them to “keep the faith.”
Unfortunately, that faith would be rocked by the discovery that the newly launched TikTok account was a forgery, and the viral video message was actually from last year, originally recorded to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library children’s literacy nonprofit.
It was a huge letdown for fans — some 700,000 — who clamored to the app in droves to follow the “9-to-5” singer and COVID vaccine collaborator. Her not-yet-verified video had already racked up more than 5 million likes as of Monday before the apparently fraudulent account was swiftly shut down, to the dismay of followers.
“The number of trolls I’ve (and other creators) have reported on TikTok and somehow they choose to ban the pride of America, Dolly Parton,” mused one on Twitter, as another vented, “TikTok banned Dolly Parton now we riot.”
A spokesperson for the music legend confirmed the account was fake on NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday morning, urging viewers to “take a closer look” at the “doctored” clip for proof. Meanwhile, TikTok acknowledged that the video had indeed been removed for violating the app’s policy on impersonation.
Should Parton change her mind and decide to launch an official TikTok account, she could count on at least as many followers as the 4.4 million she currently boasts on Instagram.
Fans initially had been over the moon at Parton’s energetic TikTok debut, reported the Daily Mail, while fellow industry brands, such as CMT, welcomed “the Queen” to the platform; Spotify, too, called it “the moment we’ve all been waiting for.”
“GOOD GOLLY MISS DOLLY!! Welciome to tiktok! We’re so glad you’re here,” fawned TikTok forager Alexis Nikole, before the fake post was removed.
“I’ve never hit follow so fast,” exclaimed one Parton die-hard, while another starstruck fan wrote, “This cured my acne, paid off my debt, healed my psoriasis, and fed my soul.”
Parton’s would-be TikTok presence provided a welcome, if brief, respite from other cringeworthy celeb content on the platform, which has ranged from ex-Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez failing at the Renegade dance challenge to Reese Witherspoon learning to TikTok from her tech-savvy son Deacon Phillippe.