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After Dolly Parton’s death, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed posted a tribute on X and a short TikTok clip that appears to use Parton’s song “9 to 5,” captioned “Rest in Power, Dolly.” The posts immediately drew online backlash accusing the campaign of politicizing a beloved, non‑political icon. This wasn’t a private moment of grief — it was a campaign move, and the move landed badly.
Tone‑deaf tribute: don’t weaponize a non‑political legend
Dolly Parton spent her life entertaining people across the political spectrum. She long said she “doesn’t do politics” and was careful about being pulled into partisan fights. Using her music and name to sell a campaign message right after her death ignored that history. It’s not reverence — it’s appropriation. If you’re trying to win over working‑class voters by lip‑syncing a song and slapping a campaign slogan on it, congratulations: you’ve invented clumsy pandering.
Legal and ethical risks: more than bad taste
Beyond the insult to Parton’s legacy, there’s a practical problem: music rights. Campaign videos that use recorded songs can need sync and master licenses. Short TikToks are no excuse. If the El‑Sayed campaign used the original recording without proper clearance, they could face takedowns or a legal headache. Even if they used a sound‑alike, the optics and ethics remain poor. The campaign should say whether they cleared rights, or admit they made a mistake.
What the backlash says about the campaign
People online saw what many of us did: a tone‑deaf attempt to score points using a grieving moment. The “Rest in Power” caption — a phrase with clear political overtones — only sharpened the criticism. Supporters will shrug and say every candidate issues tributes. Fine. But when a tribute feels like a polished bit of branding, it turns fans into critics. Smart campaigns avoid cheap stunts that spotlight the campaign team’s amateur hour on social media.
Fix it or stop: a simple test of judgment
The polite thing for Abdul El‑Sayed to do is explain whether his campaign used the original recording, secure any missing licenses, and consider taking the post down. The bolder thing is to stop treating cultural icons as props to paper over policy questions. Voters remember tone and respect. Lip‑syncing a legend’s song after her death won’t change the debate on taxes, schools, or the border — it will only remind people this campaign cares more about viral clips than good judgment. That’s the real story of this misstep.
