Fans are outraged after Linkin Park announced rocker Emily Armstrong as their new lead singer following the tragic death of founding frontman Chester Bennington in 2017.
The selection has been panned for a number of reasons, including Armstrong's previous support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, especially considering Bennington himself was a victim of sexual assault.
Linkin Park has released “The Emptiness Machine,” their first new song in seven years, and announced on Thursday that the band will be releasing a new album. From ScratchIt featured two new members, Colin Britten on drums and Armstrong replacing Bennington.
The inclusion of the 38-year-old, best known for her work in the band Dead Sarah, sparked immediate backlash, with fans pointing out her alleged ties to the Church of Scientology and support for actor Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison last year.
Armstrong's previous support for Masterson particularly angered fans who noted that Bennington was a victim of sexual assault as a child.
“From the lead singer who was the victim [sexual assault] To the lead singer who supports the guilty [sexual assault]”…I got it!” shouted one Instagram user in the comments section, garnering more than 2,000 likes.
“I believe there is a situation regarding Emily Armstrong that needs to be addressed. Your fans are waiting,” read another comment, which received nearly 4,500 likes.
“You guys need to mention Emily's connections to Danny Masterson and Scientology,” demanded another.
“Chester will not approve,” another replied. “Emily Armstrong does not deserve the platform you guys have given her. Sadly I can no longer support you guys. I've been here since the beginning.”
“I want to support you guys but your new singer's ties to the Scientology, rape apologist, mental health care wrong, cult needs to be addressed,” said another. “If that's what she claims then I can no longer support the band, especially considering Chester's struggles in life with sexual abuse and mental health.”
“It's just getting worse and worse,” lamented another fan.
Video footage of Armstrong performing as Linkin Park's new lead singer was released on social media, with many fans expressing their disappointment in the comments section.
“I say for all of you that this is not true,” said one comment, which garnered more than 1,300 likes.
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“She's trying too hard. Her vocals are flat,” criticized another fan.
“They're just a tribute band now,” another argued.
“I want to know what they saw in her. This isn't right,” another argued.
“Sorry I'll pass,” another fan wrote, while another called Linkin Park “DEI Park.”
“Cool cover band,” another Instagram user quipped.
“So disrespectful to Chester, sounds like a bad cover band singer,” another agreed.
“Cover band. Her voice is awful,” another agreed.
Another fan speculated that Armstrong's “voice won't hold up,” while another simply wrote, “This sucks.”
“She's ruining this song,” lamented another. “Like she got dropped at karaoke.”
Some have advised Linkin Park to start a new band, and many have commented that Linkin Park was “dead” with Bennington in 2017.
“Have some respect and change the band,” one Instagram user pleaded.
“Just get a new band,” agreed another.
“Why don't you start a new band?” a third retorted. “What is this? Why do you always ruin something good?”
“Linkin Park died when Chester died,” another fan argued.
“Just change the name. Sadly not Linkin Park anymore,” said another.
“They ruined Linkin Park. It really sucks,” one Instagram user wrote in the comments section of another post featuring Armstrong as the band's lead singer.
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“I didn't want to hate you, but I did,” said another.
“Chester would be rolling in his grave,” wrote another. “What is this… tell me it's a cover band.”
“Please stop,” another pleaded, while another repeated, “Please stop…”
“She has a great voice, but Chester's has an immense passion in his voice that can go from very powerful to downright brutal,” said another commenter. “It's a shame for the fans more than anything, she just doesn't have that passion.”
“It would have been great to see Linkin Park again at a time when classic bands like Blink-182, Green Day and Rancid are touring, but they need to stop. Chester is irreplaceable,” a Linkin Park fan of 20 years told Breitbart News.
“beginning, [Armstrong] “He's not the right person. Secondly, even if they found someone who sounded just like him, it would just feel wrong,” the fan added. “It's like trying to hang on to glory days that are long gone. The iconic voice that defined the band is gone. Now they just sound like a Linkin Park cover band.”
Watch Bennington perform with Linkin Park below.
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As reported by Breitbart News, Bennington died at the age of 41 on July 20, 2017, after attempting to hang himself. Notably, the “In the End” singer had previously spoken about his past experiences of being abused by older men, which he said led him to consider suicide.
Armstrong responded to the controversy surrounding Masterson on his Instagram Story on Friday, writing, “I misunderstood him.”
“Hi, it's Emily and although this is new to all of you, I want to clarify an incident that happened a while ago,” Armstrong said in a statement.
“A few years ago I was asked to support an appearance in court for someone I considered a friend and attended an early hearing as an observer. I quickly realized afterwards that I shouldn't have done that,” Armstrong explained.
“I've always tried to see the good in people, but I misjudged him. I've never spoken to him since,” the new Linkin Park frontman claimed. “Unimaginable details came to light and he was later convicted.”
“To be as clear as possible, I do not condone abuse or violence against women and I empathize with the victims of these crimes,” Armstrong concluded.
As for Linkin Park's former drummer and co-founder Rob Bourdon, he left the band because he “wanted to put some distance between myself and the band,” Linkin Park co-lead singer Mike Shinoda said. said Billboard.
“He was becoming less and less visible and less in touch, and I think the fans noticed that,” Shinoda added. “So as a friend, it was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and of course we all wish him happiness.”
Alana Mastangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. Follow her at Facebook And X is Follow,and Instagram.
