Jaime Bennington, the son of late Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, lashed out against the band for appointing Emily Armstrong as their new vocalist.
Jaime slammed the decision in an Instagram Story shared Monday. He took his anger out at Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda and called him out for hiring Armstrong 7 years after his father took his own life. He criticized Shinoda’s decision by saying he “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during international suicide prevention month.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Musician Jaime Bennington performs onstage during Charity Bomb Presents Strange 80’s 3D benefit concert at The Fonda Theatre on June 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Jaime laced into Shinoda, saying he “betrayed the trust” of the the devoted Linkin Park fans who “trusted you to be the bigger better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention.”
He pointed out the many complaints from unhappy fans that shared his perspective in comments shared to social media.
Armstrong was publicly introduced as the band’s new lead singer when she made her debut live performance Sept. 5 alongside a new drummer to the band, Colin Brittain. The group excitedly teased their new music and a supporting tour, marking the first time Linkin Park released music since Bennington’s death, and heavily promoted their new album, “From Zero,” on social media.
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 05: Emily Armstrong and Linkin Park perform during a global livestream at Warner Bros. Studios on September 05, 2024 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Timothy Norris/Getty Images for Warner Music)
Jaime took issue with Armstrong’s past, and highlighted her ties with the Church of Scientology and her support of “That 70s Show” star, Danny Masterson, who was convicted of raping two women and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in 2023. He shared messages written by Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, one of several women who accused Masterson of sexual assault, who also spoke out against Armstrong.
Bixler-Zavalare shared an earlier post he had written this past year on the Instagram page of Armstrong’s former band, Dead Sara, saying: “Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.”
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 09: (L-R) Musicians Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, Brad Delson and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park perform onstage during Rock In Rio USA at the MGM Resorts Festival Grounds on May 9, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Jaime went on to say that Linkin Park has “failed to address the concerns of their diverse fan base.” (RELATED: Linkin Park Reunites 7 Years After Chester Bennington’s Death)
He said the recent actions of the group “are not something people should acclimate to.”
“Now you’re just senile and tone deaf,” Jaime said.
