Linkin Park are back together, but their reunion has already been marred by controversy. The band’s new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong was part of a group of Scientologists who showed up at the courthouse to support That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson during his 2020 rape trial, where he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. The choice to have Armstrong fill in for the late Chester Bennington received quite a bit of backlash, notably from Cedric Bixler-Zavala of the Mars Volta/At The Drive-In. His wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler was one of the four women who pursued rape charges against Masterson, and now, she has spoken out against Armstrong as well.
Hmmm, is she still a scientologist? Seems like a weird choice if she is, although a cult is a cult and that one is brutally hard to get out of. I think I can forgive people who sided with Masterson initially if their cult told them to (maybe not at much post-conviction) but I think it’s problematic having anyone like that as the front to LP because of the suicide.
That said, if she renounced the cult at part of this gig (and ideally Masterson too) I think I’d be ok with her. I think what LP is trying to do is ultimately as good thing, especially since they’re not trying to find someone exactly like Chester.
I really was enjoying Handmaiden’s Tale (the TV series), then I happened to read the lead character is a true blue Scientologist. That fact made the show unwatchable.
Yes she still is. She apologized for supporting Masterson (I think, she didn’t name him in the post). But she seems to be OK with her cult terrorizing Masterson’s victims, among many others.
To be fair she was born into it, it’s not easy breaking free from this kind of brainwashing.
Didn’t know she was born into it, that is especially difficult. Thanks for the info, though.
There is literally no proofs whatsoever of her being an active member of Scientology past 2012. Only this one guy’s word.
Well for starters there is a picture of her at a scientology gala in 2013. And she most probably still is, because it’s incredibly hard to leave scientology. They put an unbearable amount of pressure on you to stay/come back, and if they determine you’re a lost cause, you become a “suppressive person”. When that happens, all scientologists are forbidden from any kind of contact with the person. So for her, leaving scientology means losing her family, her closest friends she’d known since forever, and any kind of support structure.
Dead Sara’s drummer was also born into scientology. Chances that they both left are very slim. Chances that a scientologist would play in a band with a suppressive person are nil.
Chances that she left scientology, then decided in 2020 to come support scientologist Masterson, who would have been absolutely forbidden from interacting with her in any way, and with a group of scientologists also present: also nil.
Thanks for the context
She didn’t even mention the cult in her half assed “apology” letter, calling her fellow cult member a “friend”. The only way this whole setup would have worked would’ve been if she, at the first announcement of her being part of LP, renounced & denounced the entire cult for what it is, along with an actually truthful apology for being part in it.
From what I’ve read, they will do everything in their power to ruin someones life and career if they publicly leave Scientology. That’s not even denouncing it, just saying you’re not a part of it anymore.
Also people keep saying they want a “truthful apology”, but if her statement is honest then she doesn’t have much to apologize for. She said he was a friend, but then immediately stopped supporting him after hearing the evidence. I think most people would have done the same. So far though it’s all just their word vs. hers so I’m holding out on any real judgement until some kind of evidence of something comes out.
I’m aware of Scientology’s tactics. Her blocking the court seats is her being part of those tactics. Just like their goons who harassed one of the victims, or Masterson raping them.
And Masterson wasn’t a “friend”, but a fellow cult member. That’s why she was there, that’s why she blocked the court room to hold any of the victims relatives & friends. She’s literally part of the problem and you people are making excuses for her instead of calling her out. Also, her idiotic “apology” HAD to specifically call out female victims, while part of the criticism is that she replaces a MALE victim.
Honestly no idea what kind of “evidence” you want before you acknowledge the truth.