[Editor’s note: This story contains information about sexual assault]
After Chester Bennington died in 2017, Linkin Park debuted a new singer yesterday (Sept. 5). The new member, Emily Armstrong, is now taking on Bennington’s vocals – however, the transition is not going as smoothly as planned.
Following the reveal of the new singer, The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala spoke out about the band’s choice. Bixler-Zavala shared a comment he left on Armstrong’s other band’s, Dead Sara, social media on his own Instagram stories. The comment was about Linkin Park’s new singer being involved in Scientology and being allegedly against Danny Masterson’s (That ’70s Show) rape victims. “I’m surprised none of you wrote a letter on Danny Mastersons behalf since your corny ass singer showed up to support him in the prelims. Remember Emily?” he wrote online. “Remember how your fellow scientologist goon squad surrounded one of the Jane Doe’s when she was trying to leave the elevators?”
Bixler-Zavala’s wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, was one of the women who pursued rape charges against Masterson. She wrote online: “Emily Armstrong is a true believer of Scientology cult/criminal organization that engages in human and child trafficking, child and elder abuse, the coverups of countless SAs on children and adults. Also is a true believer of LRH who said Homosexuals are sexual deviants on the same level as pedophiles and all homosexuals should be sent off to a leper colony.”
She also posted a photo of Bennington and Chris Cornell. “Chester and Chris had a beautiful bond and I’m told shared a common goal to fight human and child trafficking,” she wrote. “Scientology is a human and child trafficking organization protected by 501(c)3 granted under the Clinton Administration. Linkin Park just replaced Chester with a hardcore 2nd generation Scientologist.”
The couple was part of Scientology but left the organization after Carnell-Bixler accused Masterson of sexual assault. Bixler-Zavala’s involvement in Scientology was also a reason why The Mars Volta separated back in 2013.