Image: Linkin Park - Official Press Photo
Jaime Bennington publicly criticized Mike, accusing him of disrespecting his father’s legacy and making questionable decisions regarding the band. But what exactly did Jaime accuse Mike of?
What Did Jaime Bennington Say?
Jaime Bennington expressed disappointment with how Mike Shinoda handled his father’s legacy, stating: "The life and legacy of my father were erased in real-time during a band interview."
Jaime also accused Mike of hiring his longtime girlfriend Emily Armstrong as a replacement for Chester, despite knowing about her connections to Scientology and her relationship with Danny Masterson. Jaime added: "You have betrayed the trust that was placed in you by fans and supporters, including me. We trusted you to be the bigger, better person. But now you come across as senile and insensitive."
Mike Shinoda’s Response
During a performance at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Mike Shinoda asked the audience who had attended a Linkin Park concert before and who was experiencing it for the first time. After seeing the nearly balanced response, he said: "That’s incredible. This is part of the reason we came back. It’s not about erasing the past, but about starting this new chapter for the future—and for every single one of you. We love playing for you and creating this music."
This could be interpreted as a response to Jaime’s accusation that Mike was "erasing" Chester’s legacy.
Chester Bennington’s Mother Also Voices Criticism!
Chester Bennington’s mother, Susan Eubanks, also spoke out. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she expressed feeling betrayed by the band, stating that they had promised to inform her about their comeback plans. She said: "I feel betrayed. They told me they would let me know if they were going to do something. They didn’t, and they probably knew I wouldn’t be happy about it. I’m very upset."
Eubanks also criticized the decision to hire a female singer as a replacement for Chester. She recalled a conversation with her son: "Mike once told Chester that he thought it would be better to sing these songs with a woman because he often put Chester down. And Chester called me and said, ‘He thinks they’re going to replace me with a woman.’ And I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ And he said Mike told him during rehearsal, ‘If you decide to leave, we’ll replace you with a girl.’ Chester was shocked and hurt."
She added: "And now they’ve done it. It all comes back to me. I talked to my son about it. I didn’t think they would actually do it. As I said, I thought Mike would go out and sing those songs, and they just wouldn’t sound the same anymore. They wouldn’t be as high or as loud, and it would be completely different. I would’ve been okay with that, but I’m not okay with someone replacing him and trying to do what he did."
