Linkin Park Criticized By Late Frontman Chester Bennington’s Son For Having Emily Armstrong Onboard

As a fan who has followed Linkin Park since their inception, I find myself deeply saddened and disheartened by the recent turn of events. Jamie Bennington’s words resonate with me, not just because he is Chester Bennington’s son, but because as a fan, I too felt betrayed when I heard about the inclusion of Emily Armstrong and the alleged ties she has with Danny Masterson.


2024 saw Jamie Bennington, son of the late icon Chester Bennington, expressing disagreement as Linkin Park welcomed Emily Armstrong into their group. On September 8th, he openly criticized the band’s decision on social media, voicing his thoughts publicly.

The younger individual posted on their Instagram stories, expressing disagreement with the participation of Armstrong, a member of the rock group Dead Sara, in some context.

Despite the current end to the stories, Variety noted a conflict between Jamie and Armstrong. This dispute stemmed from Jamie’s connections with the Church of Scientology and her backing of Danny Masterson, the That ’70s Show actor, who was found guilty of two rape charges.

In 2023, Masterson was given a life sentence of 30 years in prison. Later on, Jamie expressed his disappointment towards the What I’ve Done band for breaking the trust of their fanbase. He felt they had promised to be better individuals, to bring about change, because that was their initial intent.

During International Suicide Prevention Month, the son of Chester Bennington referred to a well-known act as “tone deaf.” Additionally, he asserted that Mike Shinoda, co-founder of Linkin Park, had in some way diminished the legacy his father had built.

Meanwhile, Cedric Bixler-Zavala from Mars Volta, whose wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler is among those accusing Masterson of sexual assault, brought up the fact that Armstrong backed Masterson during his 2020 trial.

His post appeared not long after the band had revealed its fresh lineup on September 5, 2024. This update included their newest drummer, Colin Brittain, and Armstrong joining as their shared lead vocalist in addition.

Simultaneously, they revealed some exciting news about their upcoming releases – a brand new single titled “The Emptiness Machine” and an album named “From Zero,” set to release following a gap of nearly seven years.

On the next day, Emily Armstrong also posted about the situation on her Instagram Story, aiming to share her perspective regarding Masterson, as reported by Rolling Stone.

In her statement, Emily Armstrong mentioned that she was requested to back Danny Masterson, whom she regarded as a friend. However, Armstrong clarified that she initially attended the early hearings as an onlooker. Later on, she admitted that she regretted participating in those hearings.

On social media, Armstrong expressed his disapproval towards any form of mistreatment or violence directed towards women, showing compassion for those who have suffered such atrocities.

The album From Zero will be released on November 15, 2024. 

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2024-09-10 12:38