Facebook Rules Threaten Dolly Parton Tribute Act's Livelihood ...

A tribute act from Barnsley, Adele Foster, who impersonates the US country singer Dolly Parton, is concerned about her future due to Facebook‘s ban on impersonation. Although she has been successfully performing hits like Jolene for the past ten years, Foster recently had her Facebook page taken down, leading her to plea with the social media giant not to alienate her fans. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has stated that they do not ban tribute acts, but Foster claims her page violated the policies against impersonating others.

Foster expressed her frustration in an interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, stating, “I’m just so frustrated. I’m not impersonating her, I’m doing a tribute show to Dolly Parton.” She also explained that her tribute act, which she started nine years ago under the name Beebi Del, had unexpectedly gained popularity and became her main source of work. Prior to her Facebook page being shut down, Foster would receive numerous booking inquiries daily and had a substantial number of followers.

Ms. Foster highlighted the fact that Dolly Parton herself enjoys tribute acts and sees them as a means of gaining extra publicity. However, despite her efforts to distinguish herself as “Barnsley’s Dolly,” Foster has not received any communication from Facebook in response to her appeal. She expressed her frustration at being unable to contact anyone and described the situation as a “nightmare.”

Last month, another Dolly Parton impersonator, Kelly O’Brien, joined other tribute acts in protesting outside Meta’s headquarters in London. These tribute acts, including those impersonating Freddie Mercury, Adele, and Taylor Swift, claimed that the rules were unfairly jeopardizing their livelihoods. Meta’s spokesperson assured that tribute acts are allowed on their platforms, but it is essential for them to specify in their bio or profile that they are not the real individuals.

According to a report by BBC.com, Meta acknowledged that their technology might occasionally make mistakes and encouraged tribute acts to clarify their identities to avoid being mistaken for the actual celebrities.

, the banning of tribute acts on Facebook has put Adele Foster, a Dolly Parton tribute act from Barnsley, in a precarious position. Despite her best efforts to differentiate herself, her Facebook page was taken down, leaving her unable to connect with fans or promote her shows effectively. Foster’s case highlights the challenges faced by tribute acts and the need for clearer guidelines from social media platforms like Facebook and Meta.

– Facebook has been accused of banning tribute acts, threatening their livelihoods.

– Adele Foster, a Dolly Parton tribute act from Barnsley, had her Facebook page taken down.

– Foster argues that she is not impersonating Dolly Parton but rather doing a tribute show.

– Meta, Facebook’s parent company, claims tribute acts are allowed on their platforms as long as they make their identity clear.

– Foster’s inability to contact Facebook and the lack of communication from the company have left her frustrated and worried.

Credit: bbc.com

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