Image: Linkin Park Official Press Photo
Since the announcement of Linkin Park’s return with a new singer, several controversies have emerged involving Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong. Armstrong has been accused of being a member of the Church of Scientology and being friends with convicted sex offender Danny Masterson. Mike Shinoda has also faced criticism, particularly from Chester Bennington's son, Jamie Bennington.
In a sharp critique on social media, Jamie called out Shinoda, saying:
"Hey Mike! People aren't having a difficult time wrapping their head arount the prospect of Linkin Park is reinventing itself. They are having a hard time wrapping their head arround how you hired your friend of many years Emily Armstrong to replace Chester Bennington, knoweing Emily’s history in the Church and her history as an ally to Danny Masterson is what it is."
Jamie also accused Shinoda of "erasing my father’s life and legacy in real-time […] – and that during International Suicide Prevention Month." He added: "You’ve betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself ."
Image: Instagram / Thepicturepiecesarchive
Image: Instagram / Thepicturepiecesarchive
Emily Armstrong Responds To The Allegations
Emily Armstrong responded to the allegations in an Instagram story on September 7, 2024, explaining her involvement in a previous court case:
"Hi, I’m Emily. I'm new to so many of you, and I wanted to clear the air about something that happened a while back. Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearancem and went to one early hearing as an observer. Soon after, I realized that I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people, and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him again. Unimaginable details emerged, and he was later found guilty.
To say it as clear as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I Empathizewith the victims of these crimes."
Image: Instagram / Thepicturepiecesarchive
It remains unclear whether Armstrong is a member of the Church of Scientology, as she has neither confirmed nor denied the accusation. Some social media users claim that Armstrong was following Danny Masterson on Instagram until recently, but this information could not be verified.
Mike Shinoda On The Future Of Linkin Park
Mike Shinoda also addressed the accusations and explained in a recent interview with US radio station Q101 why Linkin Park continues to perform under their well-known name. In a statement, he said:
"During the process, we were open to the idea that the lineup might be different, that there might be multiple singers, or even that we would use a different name, and so on. But then, as the music became the focus, we said, ‘This is the best Linkin Park album we could make. It’s so Linkin Park that we’d be idiots to call it anything else.’ Because that would be a misrepresentation. It would be stupid. And when people hear more of the album, they’ll understand."
Conclusion:
The future of Linkin Park is marked by change, and the accusations against Emily Armstrong and Mike Shinoda raise questions. However, the band remains focused on the music and aims to win over fans with their new album, From Zero.
