As Linkin Park continue their reunion tour with new singer Emily Armstrong, the mother of late vocalist Chester Bennington has come forward to condemn the group’s actions.
After vocalist Mike Shinoda resurrected the nu-metal icons with turntablist Joe Hahn, Armstrong was selected as the new singer, playing her first show with the group on September 5th. After pushback from Bennington’s son, Jamie, the former frontman’s mother, Susan Eubanks, said she felt “betrayed” by the group.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Eubanks discussed not being told about the reunion, stating, “I feel betrayed. They told me that if they were ever going to do something, they would let me know. They didn’t let me know, and they probably knew that I wouldn’t going to be very happy. I’m very upset about it.”
Eubanks also went on to say that the newest incarnation of the band is trying to sidestep Bennington’s legacy in the group as well, explaining, “I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past. They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful.”
The Linkin Park controversy explained
Along with Armstrong singing her own renditions of Bennington’s material, the band have come under fire for her affiliation with the Church of Scientology and her appearance in court in support of actor and sexual predator Danny Masterson.
Despite posting on social media about wanting to distance herself from Masterson, Armstrong has also received heavy pushback from Cedric Bixler-Zavala, of The Mars Volta fame, for her involvement in the controversial religion.
Outside of the Linkin Park fans, Jamie Bennington has also been voicing his opinion about how he has had a negative reaction to the group’s reunion. Jamie has argued that the band should have performed a more thorough background check on Armstrong before hiring her, which garnered major pushback from fans.
Jamie would go on to say that he no longer feels safe at any of the shows going forward, saying, “There are a lot of people saying some really awful shit right now to me. To be honest, I don’t think I feel safe going to the show under general admission because I don’t know who I’m around.”
Nevertheless, the band has since continued and has yet to acknowledge any controversy surrounding them and Armstrong. Outside of the release of their single, ‘The Emptiness Machine’, the group has carried on on their world tour ahead of their new album, From Zero, which will be released on November 15th, 2024.
