New Linkin Park lead vocalist Emily Armstrong is under heavy criticism for her links to Scientology and a past court case.
Key Takeaways
- Linkin Park ended their 7-year hiatus and revealed their new singer, Emily Armstong on Thursday.
- Emily is allegedly a member of the cult Church of Scientology.
- She is also under heavy fire for having reportedly supported convicted r*pist Danny Masterson during his 2022 court case.
Linkin Park, one of the most iconic and impactful bands of the last two decades, marked the end of their seven-year hiatus on Thursday with a live stream.
The livestream unveiled the new leading voice of the band after the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017: Emily Armstrong.
Emily and drummer Colin Britain will be the new vocalist and the new drummer for the band.
They released a single “The Emptiness Machine” and announced a new album “From Zero“, which releases on Nov. 15.
However, netizens are split on Emily’s inclusion in the band, with both positive and negative comments coming from all corners of the internet.
With the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017, there were huge shoes to fill in the band.
So, as a result of Emily being the new vocalist of the band, many fans expressed their happiness and support for the singer.
On her Instagram post about the livestream concert, a fan commented,
A BIG WELCOME TO YOU!
VIA INSTAGRAM
That was fire! 🔥 Don’t try to be Chester, u don’t need to be him! He was our idol, our eternal childhood memory, but you, you could be the next generation’s rememberance of a legendary band with a new beginning! ❤️
She is said to be the “Janis Joplin for the arena rock age” and a “punk rock version of Robert Plant and Jim Morrison rolled into one”.
Her powerful voice and stage presence have gathered a faithful fan following.
She co-founded Dead Sara, a band with whom she worked since 2003 up until this year.
Emily Armstrong’s Scientology Allegations
With the appearance of Emily in Linkin Park’s new livestream, fans have called her out for her involvement in Scientology.
Emily’s Scientology allegations have been present since her days in Dead Sara, but her introduction to a larger audience base has amplified the claims.
Scientology is a religion that preaches spiritual enlightenment and personal growth.
Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, it teaches that individuals are immortal beings that one can claim their true form that is closer to god.
The religion is heavily considered a cult, a scheme, and a scam, with opinions varying from person to person.
Emily was present at the Church of Scientology’s 44th Anniversary Gala.
Therefore, her connections with the subject made her a subject of critique amongst Linkin Park fans.
An X user spoke on the Scientology and other allegations,
Emily Armstrong has a good voice. But that doesn’t excuse her from the fact that she is in a cult (Scientology) and knowingly supported a r*pist. Do better Linkin Park, I don’t think this is how you want your band to go down.
VIA X
It seems like Emily has a lot of hearts to win before she can be a fan favorite of the band.
Emily Armstrong: Court Lawsuit Allegations Regarding Danny Masterson
Along with Emily’s Scientology allegations, she is under heavy fire for her relationship with Danny Masterson.
In case you didn’t know, Danny is an American actor, who, in May 2023, was convicted of r*ping two women in 2003.
Emily and Danny were close friends, as shown by their appearance in the aforementioned 44th Anniversary Gala.
During Masterson’s court case, Armstrong was reportedly present during his trial to offer support.
Following this, fans are calling out Linkin Park and Emily Armstrong.
For example, an X user recently tweeted,
@linkinpark I was so excited about Linkin Park’s new era until I learned this morning that Emily Armstrong is part of the Church of Scientology and supported a convicted rapist (Danny Masterson) at his trial. This is beyond horrible and disgusting. I have no words.
VIA X
What’s even more disturbing is the fact that Chester Bennington himself was a victim of sexual abuse when he was a child.
This unsettling correlation has put a lot of Linkin Park fans in discomfort regarding Emily’s place in the band.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Emily will participate in Linkin Park’s upcoming ‘From Zero World Tour‘, which will end on November 11, 2024, in Bogota.
- She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.
- She started to write songs and play guitar when she was 11 years old.
