Chester Bennington's son slams Linkin Park for adding new vocalist
Jaime Bennington, son of late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, has criticized the band for their decision to bring in Emily Armstrong as the new lead vocalist. Armstrong, the co-founder of the rock band Dead Sara, made her first appearance with Linkin Park during a live performance on September 5. This move comes after the band's hiatus following Chester's tragic death in 2017.
Bennington criticizes Mike Shinoda on Instagram
Bennington took to Instagram Stories to express his disappointment with the band's decision, specifically calling out Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda. "Hey Mike! People aren't having a difficult time wrapping their head around the prospect of Linkin Park reinventing itself," he wrote. "They are having a hard time wrapping their head around how you: Hired your friend of many years @emilyarmstrong to replace @chesterbe knowing Emily's history in the church and her history as an ally to @dannymasterson."
Bennington highlights Armstrong's controversial past
Bennington's criticism of Armstrong stems from her association with Scientology and her previous support for Danny Masterson during his sexual assault trial. Masterson, a member of the Church of Scientology, was convicted in 2021 for raping three women. In an Instagram Story post, Armstrong addressed her past support for Masterson recently, stating that she attended one early court hearing as an observer but soon realized her mistake.
Armstrong's statement on her past support for Masterson
"Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer," Armstrong explained on Instagram. "Soon after, I realized I shouldn't have. I always try to see the good in people and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty."
Bennington accuses Shinoda of erasing his father's legacy
In addition to criticizing Armstrong's appointment, Bennington accused Shinoda of "Quietly eras[ing] my father's life and legacy in real time [...] during international suicide prevention month" and "refus[ing] to acknowledge the impact of hiring someone like Emily, without so much as a clarifying statement on the variety of victims that make up your core fan base." He also claimed that Shinoda had "betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself."
Linkin Park's new lineup to go on tour, release album
Linkin Park's decision to introduce Armstrong and their upcoming album, From Zero, has faced significant backlash from fans. During a Discord conversation, Shinoda addressed these concerns, expressing his understanding of the public shock and outrage while urging respectful discussion. Despite the controversy, Linkin Park, now comprising Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, Armstrong, and new drummer Colin Brittain, is set to embark on a six-date arena tour. Their new album is slated for a November 15 release.
