Cedric Bixler-Zavala Calls Out Linkin Park's New Vocalist Amid Controversy

Ok, I know, if you’re tired of hearing about Linkin Park, this week’s been a real test of patience. And for those of us who’ve never cared much for the band to begin with, it’s been even worse. Between their recent lineup changes and the chaos it’s unleashed, the conversation has been nonstop—and not in a good way. For the band itself? Let’s just say their grand rollout for new vocalist Emily Armstrong hasn’t exactly gone as planned.

The drama kicked off when Linkin Park introduced Armstrong, of Dead Sara, as their new lead singer. What should’ve been a moment of celebration quickly spiraled into controversy. The issue? Armstrong’s ties to Scientology and her vocal support for Danny Masterson, a convicted r@p1st. Enter Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, both outspoken critics of the cult-like organization. Chrissie, a survivor of Masterson’s abuse, wasted no time calling Armstrong out.

Armstrong attempted damage control by issuing an apology. She claimed she’d only attended one court session as an observer and regretted her involvement. If she thought that would calm the storm, she couldn’t have been more wrong. The Bixlers came back swinging, accusing her of delivering a phony and factually incorrect statement.

On Instagram, Chrissie unleashed a scathing response that pulled no punches:

“Dear Emily, If you’re not going to speak out against the human and child trafficking cult you’re a part of and continue to enable through your silence, you have no right to fill Chester Bennington’s shoes—a man who was a true advocate. I don’t care that you’re close to a serial r@p1st. I do care that you participated in the cruel intimidation of Jane Doe 1 with your cult pals. I do care that you failed to mention that your parents work for the Office of Special Affairs, a Scientology branch responsible for ordering attacks on my family, including murdering my dogs. You’re not silent because you’re scared. You’re silent because you’re one of them. Shame on Linkin Park. And fuck you.”

Cedric added his own blistering commentary, leaving no stone unturned:

“Emily, did you know your pal Chris Wadhams and Danny used to stalk Jane Doe after court, driving slowly to intimidate her? Or that Alana Masterson harassed her in the bathroom after a panic attack, calling her a liar? Maybe your OSA parents shielded you from this, or maybe you were just fine with it. Isn’t it called the ‘Fair Game’ policy in your church? Oh, and weren’t you hanging out with Bijou Phillips just days ago? She sure had fun mocking my wife’s police report. But I guess divorcing Danny makes her okay now, right? Your apology reeks of PR spin. And as for Linkin Park—fire your team. How does a Disney-level brand not vet its new vocalist? Stop playing At the Drive-In on your pre-show playlists. You’re an embarrassment.”

The Bixlers’ fury isn’t just about Armstrong’s ties to Scientology—it’s about what that organization represents. Scientology has a laundry list of atrocities that reads like a comic book villain’s playbook. Ever heard of “Operation Freakout”? In the ‘70s, they tried framing a critic for bomb threats to get her institutionalized. And that’s just one chapter in a long history of abuse, intimidation, and downright insanity.

Cedric wrapped things up with a grim prediction:

“Just watch. You’ll have Scientology ministers in plain clothes handing out ‘The Way to Happiness’ pamphlets at shows.”

At this point, it’s hard to argue with him. When you combine Scientology’s underhanded tactics with Linkin Park’s apparent lack of foresight, this fiasco feels like a ticking time bomb.

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