The controversy surrounding Emily Armstrong with Linkin Park

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Iggy Wolf Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:53am

I mean, I know she as a pick for the new lead vocalist was already polarizing to some people, but with one of Chester's sons, Jaime, coming out and criticizing her on her Scientology past, I wonder just how much of it was willing on her part vs trying to distance herself, without incurring the wrath of the Church.

A lot of people are giving Mike grief about it because he should have vetted her better. And I'm not saying people should ignore this aspect of her past. But I feel like it's a Catch-22 in terms of whether someone else would have been better and "clean" in terms of rep. Honestly, when you have people like Tom Cruise, an ACTIVE member of the "Church", and people still watch his movies, I feel it hypocritical that people would now give crap to Emily about it and not him.

And if they do give crap to Cruise as well, does that mean everyone who watches Cruise's movies indirectly support Scientology? Doesn't seem to me like people can really stand on a "moral high ground" here just because the singer in question has a shady past. Maybe Mike has his reasons (she was apparently friends with him for a while), and her apology was seen as "half-assed", but I'm not sure what she'd be able to say or do now to assuage people's concerns without retribution from the "Church". Thoughts?

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Showing 1-15 of 16 comments

eram Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:54am

In the end it doesn't really matter

Saturn830 Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:57am

What do you mean, her "Scientology past"? Is she not even a member anymore- and if so who cares? Unless she was part of the leadership and involved in recruiting and/or disappearing people.

Chaosolous Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:58am

I really like female vocalists.

That said, Linkin Park isn't Linkin Park without Mike Shinoda, Chester or Mr. Hahn.

IMO they've been putting out garbage music since Minutes to Midnight anyway.

Last edited by Chaosolous; Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:59am

ナルゴ Sep 10, 2024 @ 8:59am

Fan of linken park for 2 decades. I don't care about the Scientology background, same with Tom Cruise.
Separate the art from the artist. Give her a chance.

Neurotic Panda Sep 10, 2024 @ 9:05am

she is trash.

Her vocals sound like they are about to be ripped apart when she tries to sing songs like crawling.

LP is dead. LP died in 2017.

let it go. move on, make something new.

Its pathetic and a money grab at this point.

Even Grohl and company knew better than try to replace Kurt. They let the legend of Nirvana live on and not turn it into some cover band joke.

miamew3 Sep 10, 2024 @ 9:18am

Originally posted by Neurotic Panda:

Its pathetic and a money grab at this point.

Even Grohl and company knew better than try to replace Kurt. They let the legend of Nirvana live on and not turn it into some cover band joke.

They should have just rebranded and left Linkin Park to RIP

Iggy Wolf Sep 10, 2024 @ 9:21am

Originally posted by Neurotic Panda:
she is trash.

Her vocals sound like they are about to be ripped apart when she tries to sing songs like crawling.

LP is dead. LP died in 2017.

let it go. move on, make something new.

Its pathetic and a money grab at this point.

Even Grohl and company knew better than try to replace Kurt. They let the legend of Nirvana live on and not turn it into some cover band joke.

Here's the thing. If people want to criticize her for her voice, singing, Linkin Park's new music or direction not being as good, that's fine. It's all subjective and people are entitled to their opinion. The issue is that many people are using her shady past as an EXCUSE to hate her, when they could easily just admit that they don't like her regardless.

No need to latch on to her previous rep just to justify their personal opinion. It's not like anyone's taking the critics to task or asking them to defend their position on why they don't like her or the band's new direction. For plenty of people, Linkin Park died with Chester's death, and no one's judging those people. The controversy just comes off as grasping at straws.

Neurotic Panda Sep 10, 2024 @ 9:41am

Originally posted by Iggy Wolf:
people are using her shady past as an EXCUSE to hate her,

and?

if she has a shady past even by your own admittance why should people just openly accept her? Look at all the people with a shady past who get ridiculed. Or the people with a shady past who cant get jobs, or lose jobs, etc. Yet it should be a different story for her, especially for someone in the public spot light.

She is a joke who cant sing, not from what ive heard. LP is a cover band now. period. Just call them Phish and be done with it.

Mina Sep 10, 2024 @ 9:50am

Having her sing numb was a perfect message

VisciousFishes Sep 10, 2024 @ 10:15am

Chester's son, Jamie, also fired a shot at the fans and that is not acceptable! He can say what he wants about the band but he should leave the fan base alone. I get that Jamie is still grieving but it's not the fans fault.

As it goes, Chester Bennington was a replacement singer in the first instance. He was not an original member of Hybrid Theory when they formed. It's Mike's band and he can do what he wants with it. And it isn't like bands have replaced singers and not enjoyed success. Take Iron Maiden for an example. Or Metallica without Cliff Burton.

#10

YellowOrange Sep 10, 2024 @ 3:03pm

Originally posted by Neurotic Panda:
she is trash.

Her vocals sound like they are about to be ripped apart when she tries to sing songs like crawling.

LP is dead. LP died in 2017.

let it go. move on, make something new.

Its pathetic and a money grab at this point.

Even Grohl and company knew better than try to replace Kurt. They let the legend of Nirvana live on and not turn it into some cover band joke.

Some people still like their music, nostalgia is a powerful thing.

#11

Jazz Sep 10, 2024 @ 3:38pm

She's not just a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ singer, nor just a Scientologist. Don't forget the worst part: she went to a trial to give support to a man who was charged and convicted of raping multiple young women.

#12