Jaime Bennington, Chester Bennington's Son Calls Out Linkin Park

He criticizes the band’s reunion and Emily Armstrong’s controversial Scientology connections.

By Atticus Novak

Sep 10, 2024

Linkin Park faces backlash after hiring Emily Armstrong, who has ties to Scientology and defended Danny Masterson during his trial.
Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, accuses the band of erasing his father’s legacy and slams their timing during International Suicide Prevention Month.
Mike Shinoda defends keeping the band’s name, claiming the new music is too Linkin Park to call it anything else.

The Gist

Linkin Park thought they were shaking things up by naming Emily Armstrong their new vocalist, but it’s more like they kicked a hornet’s nest while blindfolded. Fans aren’t just upset—they’re seething. And it’s not just about her singing. Armstrong’s connection to Scientology—yeah, the same crew defending Danny Masterson during his trial for assault—has sparked enough backlash to make a PR rep break into a cold sweat. Meanwhile, the band? Dead silent. Guess they’re too busy polishing their legacy to notice it’s on fire.

Then there’s Jaime Bennington, son of the iconic Chester Bennington, who has officially had it. In a series of Instagram stories sharper than Shinoda’s jawline, Jaime called out the band for hiring Armstrong, accusing them of knowing exactly what kind of baggage she brings. He didn’t stop there. Jaime went straight for the jugular, accusing Linkin Park of erasing his father’s legacy in real time. And the kicker? They pulled this during International Suicide Prevention Month. Talk about irony slapping you in the face.

— More LINKIN PARK News:

+4 Photos

Emily Armstrong’s Scientology ties draw criticism, including harsh words from Chester Bennington’s son.

But wait, there’s more. Jaime also took a swing at Mike Shinoda, saying the guy always intended to keep the band alive—Chester or no Chester. According to Jaime, this whole reunion plan has been sitting in Shinoda’s back pocket for years. And in case you thought Jaime was bluffing, he’s planning to attend their September 11 show. Not for a cozy backstage chat. Not for forgiveness. Just closure. He’s even laid down some ground rules: “Don’t harass me or my partner. Respectfully, we’re here for acknowledgement.” Respectfully? That’s more grace than the band probably deserves right now.

Meanwhile, Shinoda is out here trying to justify the reunion like he’s solving world peace. In an interview with Q101, he talked about how they toyed with the idea of rebranding or using multiple vocalists. Then the music started taking shape, and—boom—it was apparently too “Linkin Park” to call it anything else. His exact words: “If we called it something else, we’d look like idiots.” Bold strategy, Mike. Let’s see if it pays off.

At this point, the whole situation feels like a slow-motion car crash. Fans are screaming, Jaime’s fuming, and Linkin Park seems content to march forward, controversy and all. One thing’s clear: the band’s new era is off to a rocky start. if their goal was to get people talking, mission accomplished.