Chester Bennington’s Son Criticizes Linkin Park for Adding Emily Armstrong

Jaime Bennington, son of late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, has criticized the band’s decision to hire Emily Armstrong as their new vocalist.

Armstrong, a founding member of the rock band Dead Sara, made her Linkin Park debut during a live performance on September 5 alongside new drummer Colin Brittain. The highly anticipated reveal came alongside news of the band’s first new music release since the death of frontman Chester Bennington, a new album and the “From Zero” tour. Bennington committed suicide in 2017.

Jaime expressed his disapproval on Instagram on Monday, writing in a Story post that Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during International Suicide Prevention Month.”

He authored several lengthy paragraphs highlighting Armstrong’s past, referring to her ties to the Church of Scientology as well as her support for Danny Masterson, who was convicted of raping two women and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, set to be sentenced in 2023.

Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, one of several women who have accused Masterson of sexual assault, also spoke out against Armstrong. Bixler-Zavala shared an earlier post he made last year on Dead Sara’s Instagram page, saying, “Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your friend the rapist.”

Both Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are former Scientologists who say the church harassed them over accusations against Masterson.

Jaime added that Linkin Park “did not address the concerns of their diverse fan base” and that the music group’s recent actions “are not something people should get used to.” He added that the band “betrayed the trust” of their fan base who “trusted you to be a bigger, better person. That you were the change. Because you promised us that was your intention.” He concluded, “Now you’re just decrepit and tone-deaf.”

Armstrong’s nomination and Linkin Park’s new album, “From Zero,” also sparked a backlash among fans. Shinoda addressed the concerns in a Discord conversation, expressing his understanding of the public’s shock and outrage while calling for respectful discussion.

Armstrong released her own statement on September 6, telling fans she “wanted to set the record straight” about supporting Masterson.

“I was asked to support someone I considered a friend during a court hearing and went to one of the first hearings as an observer. It wasn’t long before I realized I shouldn’t have done that,” she wrote, adding that she hasn’t had any contact with Masterson since. “To make this as clear as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women and I sympathize with the victims of these crimes,” she said.

Linkin Park, which consists of Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix and Joe Hahn, and now Armstrong and Brittain, has a six-date tour planned, including stops in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota. The band’s new album is due out Nov. 15.