Over the weekend, Linkin Park's new singer Emily Armstrong responded to criticism of her support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson, but left out any explanation of her ties to the Church of Scientology, of which both she and Masterson are members.
Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, wife of Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala (both former Scientologists), who previously accused Masterson of rape, has now responded to Armstrong's statement, in which the singer said she "was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance," but now realizes she "misjudged him."
UPDATE (9/9, 3:05 p.m. ET): The late former LP lead singer Chester Bennington's son Jaime Bennington has also spoken out against Armstrong's hiring, writing in an Instagram Story that the decision has "betrayed the trust" of their fanbase, and that surviving co-lead vocalist Mike Shinoda has "quietly erased my father's life and legacy in real time… during international suicide prevention month."
Carnell-Bixler wrote in an Instagram Story Saturday, September 7 [via Stereogum]:
Dear Emily,
If you're not going to speak out against the human and child trafficking cult in which you are apart of and in which you enable by remaining silent on the crimes you know about then you have no right to fill the shoes of Chester Bennington, a true advocate. I don't give a fuck that you are very close to the serial rapist. I don't give a fuck that you lied in your "apology" instagram story. I do care that you participated, after being asked, in the cruel intimidation of Jane Doe 1 with your cult pals at court. I do care that you didn't once mention that you are a member of a child and human trafficking cult that covers up the abuses and rapes of CHILDREN and adults. I do care that your parents work for OSA (the office of special affairs) of the cult of Scientology which have been ordering attacks on me and my family which includes murdering my dogs in the most inhumane and evil ways. I do care that they have been attacking and harassing my fellow sister survivors. You don't speak out against Scientology not because you're terrified of them. You don't speak out because you are one of them. Shame on Linkin Park. Fuck you.
Bixler-Zavala slammed Linkin Park in a statement of his own, writing that the band "should fire your entire team for not thoroughly vetting your choice."
Meanwhile, the band's (kinda boring) new single "The Emptiness Machine" debuted at No. 24 on Billboard's Rock & Alternative Airplay. Their new album is due on November 15.