“Haibo”: Helen Zille Sparks Outrage After Calling Dolly Parton a 'Floozy' in Condolence Post
- Helen Zille paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton on X, but her choice of words left Mzansi stunned
- The DA Federal Council Chair described the country legend as looking 'like a complete floozy', drawing immediate backlash
- South African social media users flooded Zille's post with criticism over the timing and tone of her tribute
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Helen Zille has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after posting a condolence message for the late Dolly Parton that many South Africans considered disrespectful. The Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson took to X to mourn the country music icon, but her word choices ignited fury rather than sympathy.
In her post, Zille wrote:
"Dolly Parton -- love her. She nursed her ill husband till the end. She looked like a complete floozy, but she was a strong and deep human being. RIP."
Zille pays tribute in her own way
While Helen Zille appeared to intend the post as a compliment to Parton's character and devotion to her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean, the description of the beloved entertainer as a ‘floozy’ struck a nerve with thousands of users. Despite Zille's clarification, the damage was done, with Mzansi broadly viewing the tribute as tone-deaf at a time of global mourning for the music legend.
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Check out the X post below:
Mzansi hits back at Zille's tribute
Chanteh challenged Zille directly, writing:
"Floozy? Uyadelela wena gogo."
LudditeRSA kept it short with a reference to one of Parton's most famous songs:
"You must be Jolene."
fezekajo offered a measured response:
"Gogo, it's okay to keep your thoughts to yourself sometimes. The floozy part was unnecessary."
Govender_V framed it as a broader issue, posting:
"Talk about a classic example of internalised misogyny masquerading as a memorial tribute."
ClaudiaBryan01 went further, telling Zille:
"Eish, you have no manners, Helen. The lady was better than you."
NathanAdams1 took a more satirical approach, asking:
"Question. What does an incomplete floozy look like?"
BennyN2 agreed:
"'Floozy' was not necessary. Bad taste. Should be more respectful towards a brilliant lady."
OfficialAQX summed up the mood bluntly:
"Dolly Parton died, and Helen Zille chooses to shame her, but in that classic South African Karen way. With a compliment attached."
Premium_xh came to her defence, arguing that critics were missing the point:
"People offended by 'floozy' clearly do not know Dolly Parton. She prided herself on looking like a floozy. One of her favourite things to say was, 'It costs a lot of money to look this cheap'."
Ladysmith Black Mambazo paid a tribute to Dolly Parton
Ladysmith Black Mambazo honoured the late Dolly Parton, who died at 80, reflecting on their decades-long musical bond.
The South African group collaborated with Parton on covers of 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' and 'Peace Train' in the 1990s.
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Source: Briefly News
