Mourned Dolly Parton's death: 'It should have been Netanyahu' — UK investigation underway
A British Cabinet Office official is under internal investigation after sharing Instagram posts lamenting that the legendary country singer passed away instead of the Israeli Prime Minister. Other posts shared by the official included comparisons between the singer's age and that of the State of Israel.
A British Cabinet Office official is under internal investigation after sharing a post on social media expressing a wish that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should have been the one to die this week, rather than country singer Dolly Parton, who passed away after a battle with cancer. This was reported on Friday by the British newspaper The Jewish Chronicle.
The official, whose identity has not been released, shared a post on his personal Instagram "story" from another user mourning her death. The first story included a picture of a young Parton in a bright pink dress, with the caption: "It should have been Netanyahu." Other posts shared on his story included similar messages, such as age comparisons between Parton and the State of Israel ("Dolly Parton was two years older than Israel when she died"), and a statement that it is a "cruel world" in which Parton passed away while Netanyahu is still alive. The posts also included statements against US President Donald Trump, including a call for supporters of the "MAGA" movement to "get out of here."
A spokesperson for the British Cabinet Office told The Jewish Chronicle that civil servants are required to adhere to the civil service code of ethics and social media conduct rules, even in personal accounts. According to the spokesperson, the posts are "clearly unacceptable," and "appropriate steps" are being taken. The newspaper reached out to the official for comment, but no response has been received yet.
Parton, a country music legend, actress, and songwriter, passed away this week at the age of 80. Following her death, Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for a week on public buildings across the United States as a tribute to the singer. He stated that it was a "real loss for millions of people. There has never been anyone like her, and there never will be again." A few hours after the news of her death broke, it was revealed that she had passed away after a "short battle with cancer." The type of cancer was not disclosed.
