The son of late Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, Jaime Bennington, has criticized the band for replacing his father with musician Emily Armstrong. In an Instagram post, Jaime claimed that the band’s founder, Mike Shinoda, had “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time” by introducing Linkin Park’s new line-up last week.
Jaime also referenced accusations about Armstrong’s ties to Scientology and her alleged support of actor Danny Masterson during his 2020 rape trial. Armstrong previously issued a statement distancing herself from the actor, saying she had not spoken to him since a preliminary hearing revealed “unimaginable details” of his crimes. He was later found guilty.
On Instagram, Jaime Bennington said fans were struggling to accept Armstrong’s recruitment and accused the band of failing to address the concerns of their diverse fan base. He also mentioned that the band had not informed him of their reunion and had not reached out to discuss the announcement.
Armstrong, previously known as the frontwoman of LA rock band Dead Sara, made her live debut with Linkin Park at a recent performance alongside new drummer Colin Brittain. The concert coincided with news of the band’s first new music since Bennington’s death in 2017 and an upcoming world tour.
In response to the backlash, Armstrong issued a statement clarifying her past support of Masterson and expressing regret for misjudging him. Linkin Park did not comment on the accusations, prompting Jaime Bennington to criticize the band for not taking accountability for their actions.
Meanwhile, Linkin Park’s lead guitarist Brad Delson announced that he will not be playing with the band on their comeback tour. Delson, an original member since 1996, stated that he prefers to work behind the scenes in the studio and collaborating on new music. Guitarist Alex Feder will take his place for the upcoming live shows.
Despite the controversy surrounding Armstrong’s recruitment, Mike Shinoda addressed the public reaction on his Discord channel, acknowledging the mixed emotions it stirred among fans and crew. He urged fans to be respectful in their comments and warned against disrespect.
