Antonie Zacpalová dies at 91 amid funeral controversy

Antonie Zacpalová, the mother of singer Dominika Gottová and former partner of Karel Gott, has died at the age of 91. Zacpalová, a former ballerina, spent her final years at a senior home in Prague.

Her passing has been marked by public controversy regarding her funeral arrangements and family involvement. While initial reports suggested her body had not been claimed, leading to the possibility of a state-funded funeral, subsequent accounts indicated that an anonymous acquaintance eventually financed a cremation service in Prague.

Dominika Gottová, who was in Helsinki at the time of her mother's death, did not attend the services, citing financial difficulties and psychological strain. This absence drew criticism from longtime friends of Zacpalová, including former ballerina Jitka Vašutová. Friends have also shared reflections on Zacpalová’s private life and her past connections to various figures in the Czech cultural scene, including actor Miloš Kopecký.