It was a big day for Linkin Park yesterday as the band returned from a seven-year hiatus after the death of frontman Chester Bennington. Not only did the band debut new music, a release date for an upcoming full-length, and a short world tour this month, but the band also introduced new members including Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara who’ll be filling the massive shoes of Bennington on lead vocals.
However, less than 24 hours after the announcement controversy is brewing surrounding Armstrong and her connections to Scientology and her possible connection to convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
Armstrong was definitely in attendance at the Church of Scientology 44th Anniversary Gala in 2013 when she was pictured along with other celebrities in attendance, including Cedric Bixler-Zavala formally of the Mars Volta and At the Drive-In.
And it’s here where things could potentially be even more damning for Armstrong.
Bixler-Zavala has since left Scientology and like many former members has heavily criticized the Church since their departure. In 2017 Cedric referred to Scientology as a “self help volcano[…] as barren as a floating needle. A placebo of Sugary kool aid”. He also accused the Church of covering up his wife’s alleged sexual assault and called it “a modern-day version of The Handmaid’s Tale“. In 2020 Bixler-Zavala’s dog died after apparently eating raw meat laced with rat poison that was thrown over the wall of his house. The former Mars Volta frontman accused the Church of Scientology of killing his dog, something the group has denied any involvement in.
However, when it comes to the sexual assault allegations of Bixler-Zavala’s wife, Chrissie Carnell, the singer accused Danny Masterson in a series of tweets back in 2017 of carrying out the assault. Bixler-Zavala even called out Armstrong’s band Dead Sara for the singer showing up to Masterson’s rape trial as a show of support.
Given the general shittiness regarding Scientology, it sucks that Armstrong is involved in that bullshit even if that Anniversary Gala she was pictured at happened eleven years ago.
What’s even more concerning is her potential support for a convicted rapist.
Danny Masterson’s trial didn’t happen eleven years ago. Masterson was criminally charged in 2020 and sentenced to thirty years to life, six years after Masterson’s first victims came forward.
Nonetheless, Linkin Park and especially Armstrong certainly deserve the right to address and potentially clear up any accusations being thrown their way as talk surrounding this on the internet is definitely picking up steam. It’s something that needs to happen sooner rather than later, especially with their tour coming up next week.