Linkin Park Have a BIG Problem 

I was truly hoping that the controversy was potentially being blown out of proportion. But with the recent statement by Chester's son himself, as well as Emily addressing the situation + Mike clearly being on the defensive, this is going to shape up to be the biggest story in music in the past months. What're your opinions on this whole thing?! Be sure to let me know down below!!!!!!! But for now, cheers, rock on, stay heavy and have yourselves a fantastic rest of your day or night, depending on when you see this!!!!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

It just makes me uncomfortable. Especially given the opinions scientology holds about mental illness, and the fact that we lost Chester to mental illness. It feels like a spit in the face.

Don't forget that Jaime's mom has an restraining order on her own son. Mike offered Jaime professional help for his mental problems but he refused. Chester's wife supports Emily in the band. I would take whatever Jaime says with a grain of salt. He's even threatening to do something at the concert tonight.

Kind Reminder: We don't know sh*t We don't fully know Emily's past We don't fully know what actually happened to Chester. If you think we do, well think again We don't know their relationship with Сhester's son I want Linkin Park to Adress it properly but given how many stupid people there're I understand if they approach it with silence

I'm not even a Linkin Park fan, but even my jaw hit the floor cause of this.

The whole thing is sketchy. They are trying to cover up shit up, and people are actually falling for it. Honestly, I lost respect for Mike

LP got me trough some dark times when i was growing up. The music resonated with me a lot when i didnt know how to deal with stuff i was feeling. I was horrificaly abused for a few years as a child, mentaly, physicaly and sexualy. I didnt know how to deal mentaly with going trough that and listening to LP helped a ton. Just hearing those same feelings, the anger, the shame, all helped me get trough it. I saw the news LP was going on tour again, I got excited. I really wanted to see them because i never got to when i was young. Then this. Someone who harrasses rape victims replacing the man whohm helped a broken child feel normal. Someone part of an organization that inflicts what I went trough and worse on a regular basis. Its despicable.

Thank you for being so clear on your messaging and helping us spread awareness of what the problem with the situation is. Emily grew up in Scientology. Her mother is the editor of “freedom magazine“ google freedom magazine, so you understand how anti-mental health Emily‘s mother is, she has engaged in decades long misinformation campaigns lying through her teeth, spouting and utterly baseless, lies and attacks on psychiatry, therapist and the entire mental health field in general and all for what? Glad y’all asked All for the fact that they didn’t want any of their victims, having access to mandated reporters. Predators who abuse people with impunity do not want, any type of mental health practitioner anywhere near them and Emily‘s mother is the one woman who has spouted all these lies for decades is all so it couldn’t be more of a slap in the face to have this be a reality. The more people know the more people find out that is children who Scientoligy preys on children that are brought there by their parent And put in harms way with parents knowing. Scientology parents who pretend that is a religious experience to abuse a child are being given as severe reality adjustment because the year is 2024 and all the regurgitated pitched extremist rhetoric of a convicted felon a.k.a. L Run, Howard, the founder of this racketeering child abuse scam is something that is not a legal defense truly normalize abuse Kids industrial scale. We are saying no more kids in Scientology because Kids cannot consent.

The only music RU-vidr right now giving this the proper attention and care to investigate. Thanks you

Victor Borba most known for Devil May Cry's "Bury the Light" would've been a good choice.

I’ve been a linkin park fan since I was seven years old and their music got me through some pretty rough times. When their new track dropped I could have been the happiest man alive that day. Then a day later I read the news regarding Emily. This is not okay. I don’t know how a sane person, let alone a whole band of them, would let someone known to be involved in a fairly controversial religion take the place of Chester, especially knowing there would be people who wouldn’t take him not being in the band very well to begin with. The Masterson stuff is the icing on the cake to an icky situation. I hope this is addressed by Mike fully in the coming days or Emily is let go, because these dudes were my heroes growing up and it sucks seeing them sink to that level.

Imagine a rape sympathiser and someone who doesn’t believe in metal health being a lead sinner of a band who’s theme is heavily built on mental health and depressing singing those songs, the victims coming out exposing who Emily Armstrong is, Mike restricting Chester’s son, while Chester’s son is now getting death threats from randoms sounds like allot like Scientology goons coming for Chester’s son since Emily Armstrong joined the band, and we know Emily Armstrong and the goons of Scientology went to the Danny masterson trial to intimidate the Danny masterson victims has good so much lurgy gross baggage, mike clearly sold his souls to the devil himself

THANK YOU , regardless of her vocals (that i think are actually quite decent) . Her association with danny is a gigantic red flag. One of the more serious allegations were of harassing a rape victim, and you can tell that she is supposed to take chester's place? , how can someone who allegedly harassed a rape victim can sing crawling.. huge L for Linkin park. I hope that those allegations are overblown RIP to chester , the men who could sing like an angel and scream like a devil

Linkin Park resignated with fans because of Chester's vocals, Brad's harmonics & Rob's beats. Now all that is left IS a empty machine full of lies.

Maybe Mike didn't see this coming either. He thought Emily's background wont be an issue? No such luck. The only good thing about this issue is Scientology being brought into highlight so more people will understand what it's all about and why it's a big deal for scientologist Emily being in LP. The rest is bad. Chester's son made himself clear so people will understand. He is still healing and now this happened. This situations weighs heavily mostly on Emily now that all cards are drawn. I wish her and LP well. I'll have my popcorn reserved for the next episode of this.

So ill add some real facts, you not mentioned or looked up, over these accusations you mentioned. 1. Emily was born into Scientology, so she didnt have the opportunity to choose, whether she will join/follow or not. 2. Her parents are some high tier people inside Scientology. 3. Emily is openly lesbian and supports the LGBTQ+-Community. Two things that go against the Beliefs of Scientology. 4. As Cedric Bixler-Zavala (singer of Mars Volta/ex-Scientology member) states in a post, its very dangerous to say something against Scientology or to leave/get out of it. In example his dogs were poisoned by Scientology goons!! 5. Cedrics Wife (Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, ex-Scientology member) was one of the SA Victims of Danny Masterson (Scientology member). Scientology also bullied the couple over their allegations against Masterson. 6. Who wouldnt support a good friend, you thought you know really good, until proven guilty? Like everyone would support his or her best friend no matter what it is, am I right? And she did a statement about it to clarify. 7. She was only on an early hearing as an observer. So for now all these other accusations remain accusations until proven to be true. Now think over it again with these facts, you know with this post ;)

Thank you for covering this! Chester suffered depression stemming from csa he experienced at the hands of another child. He didn’t report because he knew the other boy was abused himself. You can imagine why in this light the reports that Emily at the pre trial a couple years ago her and her crew reportedly harassed Danny’s victims until they had to be escorted like a gang protection unit in an attempt to silence them that fans of Chester, esp victims of csa and sa at the hands of organized religion, are quite upset at this move by their label.

I grew up with Linkin Park. Meteora is one of my mum's favourite albums of all time so i have a lot of memories of her listening to it and me seeing the videos on tv. When Chester passed it was genuinely devestating. My mum couldn't listen to LP for at least two years after. Basically what i'm saying is Chester was an incredibly important person not only to me and my family but to millions worldwide, and honestly LP going forward as they seem to be right now i really think is going to damage their reputation a hell of a lot. They need to think very carefully about how they continue. For me i think they should change their name and start again as a new band. A clean slate, cos they can never move on from what they used to be if they continue as they are.

I think Linkin Park made a poor decision there and Mike is being selfishly silent with the backlash. I'm fine with them moving forward, but they chose the wrong kind of person to take Chester's place. I don't care if it's male/female/trans. Gender isn't the issue there. EA should be reconsidered and terminated ASAP.

It’s really just super disappointing that this has to happen when a band is trying to make a comeback. Like it’s hard enough as it is for a band to come in and try and fill the shoes that they left years ago, I checked out the song without any knowledge of any of this stuff and I thought it was pretty good. But knowing this now it’s like it’s impossible for me to have that same perspective.

It would have been so perfect for Andy Ciezek to be the new LP vocalist.

I thought maybe one of Chester's sons would want to take his place. Draven is a DJ and Jamie helped with GreyDaze, but apparently Talinda cut him off and Mike has a restraining order

You know, usually I try to hear the story from all sides, but if Mike and Linkin Park continue to sweep this under the bus, all they’re gonna do is prove Jaime right about his allegations against them. They’re essentially tarnishing their image and why? Because Chester’s son said something they don’t like?

There's definitely red flags like water in the ocean here Disgusting choice by LP

Awful choice she is such a insult to chester its unreal

Just a thought, what if Mike felt that Psychology failed Chester and so he became a Scientologist and met Emily that way?

I'm not a Linkin Park fangirl, but i am a fan nonetheless, and to see them, the band that hosted a mentally ill SA victim who took his own life due to depression, promoting a fucking Scientologist who, is we were to follow her cult's beliefs, doesn't believe in mental illnesses... It hurts. I looked up to them, and it hurts to see them fall down so hard. I highly recommend Fantano's video on the matter, he dissects the situaton pretty succintly

Chester was murdered

My opinion is that they should have formed a new band, new name, new look, and at least some of the criticism could have been mitigated, but still it would have been tone deaf. I'm a bit disappointed with Emily's message, since it doesn't clearly say what it is about and doesn't really take accountability for her own actions. I know it is hard to leave Scientology, but if she had said she has left it, clearly stated who she is and why she is the new voice of Linkin Park, I'm sure at least some of the fanbase would have welcomed her with open arms, because the song is not bad. If it was the 90's she would have had the chance to prove herself through the music and interviews, but nowadays you have to speak up. I'm hesitant in completely dismissing Emily, but right now I'm more disappointed than anything else.

First question I have probably most of you already have is they knew about HER past history so why would they pick her IN the first place it's almost as if they support Scientology? The fact that she has not come out against Scientology tells you all you need to know that Scientology is probably behind this whole thing. I personally disgusted the fact that Scientology has anything to do with Linkin Park considering Chester's suicide. Unbelievable ❗

Well shit. The new album held promise, but hearing Emily got involved with Scientology is pretty sickening.

Why did they pick her? it makes no sense….. saying linkin park had no clue about her past is bs. maybe theres something in the background we are not yet aware of.

I like linkin park and I was excited about the band returning. But to me it seems that this this is bs and is not the right way to move on. First off the choice of new vocalist I get that she was a friend of Mike's but there were other possibilities. Second them ignoring Chester Bennington's son after trying to address stuff and restricting his access for communication is just offensive to me and I may not be the longest time fan. However I do believe in respecting family opinions when it comes down to things like this. They could have at least ran it by them. Third is just the whole scientology bs that the new singer is involved in it sickens me.

Well firstly she is openly pro LBGT+ which goes against Scientology, secondly the reason in terms of the date coinciding with mental health awareness month is seen as a negative, however perhaps the opposite might be true also by doing so intentionally respecting Chester as away to show them trying to rise again, I certainly do not think their intentions were intended to be disrespectful, but it could have perhaps in that case be mentioned. The drummer part of the foundering member who took a break alluded he would be doing so dating back quite some time. thirdly in the lyrics of the song there is a dichotomy in part preserving the past and in part paint a way forward, a new direction, a new era, the intent is not to replace Chester and Mike made that clear, besides would it matter even whom hey chose? Besides all of this we cannot make objective statements predicated on what we know. Lastly why they essentially ignored Chester's son is odd indeed but why would his widow be in support of Emily as being part of LP? Why have their comeback single helped the band to reach a milestone across several charts? Why is Eminem in support of Emily also blaming the media for the backlash in support of Emily? Changing their name would make little difference. End of the day their fans will be the deciding factor whether they succeed or not regardless how we feel. What I mentioned is objective not subjective. These are not my opinions but observation, I like LP, whether I will like the new chapter is a different story and I do not want to jump the gun on this. If not I will listen to their earlier material. Sometime, in view that hardest choices requires the strongest will. For now, I am not going to simply dismiss them out of hand. This is not the same LP.

Mike seemed to be more concerned with how he was gonna keep the band going than he was about Chester’s death after he passed.

No matter what she says about Danny Masterson, it does not matter if she does not also come out against Scientology. As the "church" will declare people like Danny Masterson, who get convicted (or certain other cases), "Subversive persons" and excommunicate them, as them being Scientologists can hurt the "churches" reputation. I sense the same outrage and frustration in you that I feel. I have struggled with mental health issues most of my life, and during my pre-teen and early teenage years, Chesters voice and lyrics made me feel like I wasn't alone in my struggles, that someone understood when noone in my life did. I wish they would have kept it at the "new" songs released from Meteora (I can't listen to lost without ugly crying), and let the bands legacy stay intact.

"Fairly young" 38 isn't exactly young.

man this really sucks, I had a lot of hope for this new album but hearing all of this makes it feel a lot less authentic. I’ve always been a huge fan of fort minor and mike’s other solo work specifically so hearing how poorly this was handled is pretty disappointing

My take on this is maybe LP themselves or their label/management is in business with Scientology. They had 7 years to make this decision so they knew what they were doing

ugh the worst thing is that i really enjoyed the single. i just wanna listen to the new linkin park with no baggage attached :(

She's also good friends with Danny Masterson(You probably know already how lowlife he is) who made an effort defending him and attacking the victims who spoke out about Danny.

It's insane to me that a band like Linkin Park, who could have gotten anyone they wanted, they're one of the biggest bands of all time. You'd think they wouldn't pick someone who would tarnish their image like this. It comes off like they either are completely incompetent or don't care. Neither of which are good looks

I will admit I've never listened to Linkin Park. I caught the hoopla online and while I try to separate the art from the artist I'm not sure I could do this if she sang in a group I did listen to. I was a bit surprised by a post in support of her only because she either supports the LBQT or is part of that community... I guess that excuses everything else.

I am not the biggest fan of Shinoda's decision to hire Emily, because I didn't really like her voice, but the fact that he is shunning and restricting Bennington's son from talking to him to the point that the younger guy had to take things public seems reaaaally sketchy to me. I just hope they get another singer that isn't doused in this much boosh.

I feel this whole situation is a betrayal of what the band was and stood for. I personally am not comfortable listening to the new song(s) with Emily.

I feel like people think mental health is a joke now n days,

Face it scientology took over linkin park, The guitarist announces.He's not going to be touring with them, The original drummer is not in the band anymore basically the only Original band member is mike sharona. Scientology took over that band.

Her statement sounds like a video that ashton kutcher and mila kunis did an apology video.

I’m not listening to LP anymore, also Emily’s singing is kind of generic, it’s sad that a lot of people are eating it up, I guess Scientology now has LP now….

Lp the new money printing machine

You do know this won't change anything they still will be a band regardless of how many people disagree with it. Or get on RU-vid and whine about it.

I don't know what to think at this point. I can say... I am skeptical of their choice... I think she needs singing lessons before she wrecks her voice, droppingout of the fry/grit and some of the scream cuts were, hopefully just nerves... I think there is a good reason they have announced a short world tour. I am seeing this from multiple perspectives. 1. I get it... as an artist, when you find a muse or a collaborator that gets you going, you want to hold onto that... regardless of how destructive it maybe... 2. I fully understand why people see this as a betrayal of the long standing message of Linkin park, and with Chester no longer here. It does feel like a slap in the face. I just don't get why you got with someone with those beliefs. 3. I think this was a calculated risk by Mike and the record company... and I think they are gambling that enough people just won't care. Because let's be honest if you look at the praise she is getting versus the heats... I the studio and the z e nu PR firm seemed to have planed this whole thing out.

Her beliefs and opinions. We dont have to care about that! Just seperate art from artist, ones believes are none of your buisness. I disagree with what she believes, but she can believe what she wants. Whats the big deal? As long as the art is good?

do you pray for your subscriber base?

Woah okay- my dad's having a field day with this one 🤠

I'm gonna be honest I don't really care, I get that it's bad but in my opinion she just sucks in the band

Cancel culture at his finest, Yeah forget Chester's pass.. All you guys are ignorant !!!

She has to goo

Yeah, let's cancel her, she doesn't meet your lofty progressive values and therefore is not allowed to sing in a band

She was born into it, she was forced into it. She admitted she made mistakes with Danny, and she probably can’t talk about Scientology. I’m not defending her AT ALL, but I just don’t think it’s entirely fair. Also why didn’t any complain about all of this with Dead Sara?

Here are some thoughts over this: 1. She didn't support an abuser, cause she didn't believe Masterson was an abuser. As an observer in the trials she got knowledge of new things, she changed her mind and walked of. This kind of sh1t can happen to anyone. We use to believe and support friends in moments of need, it's a good human value. She misjudged him and cut relations with him after knowing the truth. I don't see any problem here. 2. I think people are misunderstanding what leads someone to religion... We don't know her relation with Scientology. It's not that scientology doesn't believe in mental illness, they have a different approach to it, focused in confronting the issues to overcome it. Maybe she found in scientology a way to get better from her own mental problems... we don't know and we shouldn't judge. Obviously, Chester didn't took his life because of scientology. Creating this relation that Emily couldn't be in this band because scientology is a disrespect to his condition is, at best, shallow. It sounds so much as religious intolerance... I'm a Christian man, I don't believe in scientology but I understand depression all to well. I did all kind of treatments (psychology, psychiatry, cognitive behavioral, church... pick anyone, I did it) and none of them worked for me. My family made it batter. The need to man up and carry my world on my shoulders made me stand. My point here is, wich one of us knows where we struggle. Scientology has nothing to do with it. Maybe a religion (any religion, even scientology) would have helped him. I hope Emily and Linkin Park overcome this. She is a great song writer and vocalist, I think her style fits LP. Just adding something here: One thing that didn't help him at all was those fans criticizing him for not being able to replicate his own style in his later years. Seeking for erros, playbacks, booing...

It was Linkin park always it was a band not solo So if u r not fan of Linkin park sit at home and keep mourning for our beloved late Chester Bennington Because that's how you all are thinking He ain't coming back And if you guys keep bullying Emily Chester ain't happy out there for you all Because he was onced pullied and he went hell how people tried to bring him down He know what is depression Make no more one You all will regret later

I don't care anything, i just want hear the new music of linkin park. Chester is Chester. Linkin Park is the band. Not Chester.. Let's move on..

The LP fandom is surviving off of copium at this point

It is not Linkin Park problem. It is your mental problem with messed up way of thinking. LP is a band. The band is not only a Chester. Amily is the singer, obviously great one. From first song, you can feel she is part of LP. The rest means litetally nothing, including opinion of Chester's son. Sorry, boy, your father was great, but you need to let him go and let the band go. Afterall you owe some respect to band too, they are the part of your father success. All this crap about sceintology, blaming her to be friend of rapist, does not cost a cent. Even if true, it can't be the reason for great singer to stop sing. Haters gonna hate potatoes.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah is all I heard for a minute straight and I didn't give a fuck about any of it.

I don't agree with Chester's son here. He was not in the band, the band was always Mike's band. He has absolutely no say in any of it.

Whatever makes them happy then go for it. Look its not our band or our choice what they decide to do, love it, hate it, you don't have to support it, simple as that.

Y did they have to hire a scientologist 🥲