The controversy explained

Remaining week, the rock band Linkin Park announced their go back, seven years after frontman Chester Bennington died through suicide.

They were one of the most a hit acts of the 2000s, with hits like Numb and in the end. That fused aggressive steel riffs to hip-hop beats.

For their go back, they had been joined by new members – drummer. Colin Brittain and singer Emily Armstrong, who had shared lead vocals with current bandmate Mike Shinoda.

But no faster had the assertion been made than a a torrent of grievance emerged over Armstrong’s alleged ties to the Church of Scientology. Her beyond assist of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.

She later issued a declaration distancing herself from Masterton, stressing that she did no longer condone any “abuse or violence against ladies”.

Here’s how the tale unfolded.

Who is Emily Armstrong?

Born in 1986, la local Emily Armstrong is pleasant known as the lead singer of difficult rock band dead Sara.

She first got into song at the age of 12 after being given a guitar as a birthday present. She later dropped out of faculty to pursue music, with the help of her parents.

Armstrong quick shaped useless Sara along with her formative years pal Siouxsie Medley, making their debut in 2002.

Inspired through bands like L7 and hollow, they broke out with the scorching 2011 unmarried Weatherman.

Armstrong’s fiery onstage character and raspy voice earned her a whole lot of famous fans. Courtney Love asked her to sing on hollow’s 2010 album nobody’s Daughter, and Dave Grohl as soon as said. “useless Sara ought to be the following biggest rock band in the world.”

That by no means quite took place. The band signed to Epic statistics after the achievement of Weatherman. The courting changed into brief-lived and they needed to crowd-fund the release of their next album.

But they persisted – releasing their maximum latest album. Ain’t It Tragic, in 2021, and journeying with Demi Lovato the following year. After operating on her rock album Holy Fvck.

Why did Linkin Park upload a new singer?

After the death of Chester Bennington. Linkin Park went on hiatus – best performing publicly at a tribute live performance for his or her former singer in 2017.

Inside the years that followed, the band had been uncertain about their future.

“the connection inside the band remains intact between all of the men and we are nevertheless in conversation, however every person is usually in exceptional sort of spaces,” bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell told a US radio station remaining yr.

“And the quantity of earth that desires to be moved to start the development mission of Linkin Park… Is a ton, and it is no longer going anywhere speedy.”

Alongside the manner, Shinoda began questioning how the band might manage Bennington’s vintage components.

“Am I going to be carrying a bunch of vocals?” he informed Apple tune. “Are we going to have some other vocalist? Are we going to have more than one vocalists onstage?”

They attempted out several new singers to look who had the right chemistry. Armstrong was first invited to a three-day strive-out in 2019. However it wasn’t till “this time final year” that she began recording with the band in earnest.

“once I started out to hear Emily’s voice on matters, my brain, it turned into like the first time that my brain might take delivery of it as a Linkin Park tune,” Shinoda said.

According to the band’s DJ, Joe Hahn, the primary time he heard Armstrong scream, “for me, that did it.”
Linkin Park unveiled their new appearance on Thursday. 5 September, alongside a brand new unmarried – The vacancy gadget – and plans for a international tour.

Preliminary reactions were tremendous.

“Armstrong clearly has huge shoes to fill,” wrote the new york instances’ pop critic Jon Pareles. “however, as she proves on this bombastic new track, Armstrong shares Bennington’s facility in pivoting between melodic belting and throat-shredding screams.”

Even the hardcore enthusiasts on Linkin Park’s Reddit web page largely appeared pleased.

“She brings the electricity and presence needed to fit the band’s sound with out seeking to imitate Chester,” wrote one.

“guy she already NAILS it,” brought every other. “that is a worthy reboot and the nice step they may have taken.”

However others felt the new addition turned into disrespectful to Bennington’s reminiscence.

Amongst them become the singer’s son. Jaime, who published an extended statement accusing Shinoda of erasing his father’s legacy, and announcing the band had “betrayed the accept as true with” of enthusiasts.

Remarks like the ones caused Brent Smith, lead singer of difficult rock band Shinedown, to come to Linkin Park’s defence.

“something to think about… Do you certainly agree with that the participants of this iconic band really think that, of all and sundry, Chester Bennington is replaceable?” he wrote on Instagram.

“The entire world is aware of he’ll never be replaceable because he became one in all a kind.

“however with all that being said there may be an target market that pass over this band, and their presence, and what they represent. So I requested you, ALL of you… deliver them the opportunity to not near their chapter. Permit them to rejoice their legacy, and additionally the possibility to create a brand new one.”

Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler spoke out in opposition to Armstrong after she joined the band.

The singer re-shared a put up he had written closing yr on dead. Sara’s Instagram page, pronouncing: “Do your fanatics recognize approximately your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.”

The submit associated with US actor Danny Masterson, former star of That 70s show. Who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in 2023. After being convicted of two of 3 forcible rape expenses earlier in the 12 months.

Carnell-Bixler turned into one among numerous women who accused Masterson of sexual assault – and while the actor become now not convicted on the prices referring to her allegations. He turned into found guilty on costs added with the aid of two other anonymous accusers.

Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler, both former Scientologists. Have stated the church burdened them and other witnesses over their allegations towards Masterson, who is additionally a Scientologist.

Jaime Bennington puzzled why Armstrong were allowed to enroll in the band underneath those instances. And accused Linkin Park of “fail[ing] to vet her well”.

How did Emily Armstrong respond?

The singer posted a statement of her personal on Friday, addressing a number of the allegations against her.

“hi, I’m Emily,” she wrote in an Instagram tale put up. “I’m new to so a lot of you, and that i desired to clear the air about some thing that befell a while returned.

“several years in the past, i was asked to support someone I taken into consideration a friend at a court docket appearance, and went to at least one early listening to as an observer.

“quickly after, I realised I shouldn’t have. I usually try to see the best in people, and that i misjudged him. I have by no means spoken with him considering that.

“not possible info emerged and he became later located responsible.

“to say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against girls, and that i empathize with the victims of these crimes.”

Is the singer a Scientologist?

Armstrong did no longer address her ties to Scientology in her announcement. And it is doubtful whether she remains a member.

She turned into born into the church, in which her mother and father are both distinguished participants. Her mother is stated to be Gail Armstrong. A former Scientology spokesperson and a senior consulting editor of the church’s magazine, Freedom.

Armstrong was also pictured on the Church of Scientology movie star Centre for a gala celebrating. The Church’s 44th anniversary in 2013. A picture of the event, supplied by means of the church to Getty pix (above) noticed her posing alongside Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

Armstrong has by no means publicly commented on her relationship with the church. But several of dead Sara’s lyrics advise complaint and rejection of Scientology’s teachings.

The singer identifies as queer – something that Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard defined as a perversion. The contemporary church says it “does no longer dictate sexual preferences”. Denies accusation of homophobia. Armstrong sang scathingly about non secular attitudes to sexuality inside the 2018 music Heaven’s were given A back Door.

“I heard the voices of the preacher / Telling me all of the motives why i’d die by myself… I am thru feeling sorry / For the matters that I cannot pick.”

Enthusiasts have theorised that lyrics like these imply. Armstrong has left the church – however doing so may be a harrowing revel in that includes slicing ties with own family individuals.

For now, she has no longer commented on her ties to Scientology in any capacity.