Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, has publicly criticized Mike Shinoda and Linkin Park following the band’s announcement of Emily Armstrong as their new co-lead vocalist. In a series of emotional social media posts, Jaime expressed his feelings of betrayal, particularly given Armstrong’s past associations, including her ties to Scientology and her connection to convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
Jaime accused the band of erasing his father’s legacy, especially during a month dedicated to suicide prevention. He called out Shinoda for not being the “bigger, better person” he had promised to be, expressing disappointment in the band’s decision-making. He also indicated his intention to attend the upcoming 9/11 show for closure, urging respect for his grieving process.
In response to the backlash, Armstrong addressed the criticisms by clarifying her past involvement with Masterson, emphasizing that she does not condone abuse and empathizes with victims.
While Jaime’s accusations have drawn significant attention, Chester’s widow, Talinda, showed her support for the band’s direction by positively commenting on their announcement on Instagram. As of now, neither Shinoda nor the band has responded to Jaime’s allegations.
