UPDATE: Emily Armstrong has issued a response.
UPDATE 2: Chester Bennington’s son blasts Linkin Park over bringing in Emily Armstrong.
Following Thursday’s news from Linkin Park that they’d be reuniting with a new vocalist, Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara, Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta and At the Drive In and his wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, have called attention to Armstrong’s connections to the church of Scientology, as Stereogum points out. Carnell-Bixler was one of the women who accused That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson of rape — he was found guilty last year, though not on her charge, specifically — and she and Bixler-Zavala also say Masterson and the church stalked, intimidated, and harassed them after making the allegations. Armstrong, as Carnell-Bixler points out, was among those who showed up at court with Masterson in 2020 for his arraignment.
“@linkinpark ‘s new lead singer is a hardcore Scientologist who supporting convicted serial rapist both in and out of court,” an Instagram story from Carnell-Bixler reads. “Emily Armstrong is a true believer of the 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. You can read all about Scientologists’ views on LGBT community in Science of Survival or Dianetics.”
A comment Cedric left on Dead Sara’s Instagram account last year has also resurfaced; it reads, “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? Remember how your fellow scientologist goon squad surrounded one of the Jane Doe’s when she was trying to leave the elevators? The court sheriffs had to escort her away from your awful cult. Remember when we did the purification run down Emily? Were you directed to safe point me cuz of what my wife knew? Why can’t you shut your mouth during a detox program where people are going through some rough shit but your corny ass is singing like an unsupverised child? Is it cuz you’re a born in scientologist that gets a pass? How do you reconcile the homophobia found in the teachings of LRH’s book dianetics? Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.”
In another Instagram story, Carnell-Bixler mentioned the late Chester Bennington, writing, “My husband toured with Soundgarden many times. I’ll never forget Chris Cornell telling a packed stadium that The Mars Volta was his favorite band. Chester Bennington and Linkin Park would always play At The Drive-In songs before going out on stage. Chester was a child SA survivor. Chester and Chris ha da beautiful bond and I’m told shared a common goal to fight human and child trafficking. Scientology is a human and child trafficking organization protected by a 501(c)3 granted under the Clinton Administration. Linkin Park just replaced Chester with a hardcore 2nd generation Scientologist. REST IN PEACE.”
Armstrong and Linkin Park haven’t issued a response at this time. UPDATE: Emily Armstrong has responded.
Following Armstrong’s response, Carnell-Bixler and Bixler-Zavala both issued additional statements on social media. Carnell-Bixler’s reads:
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’s reads:
Emily, did you know that your friend Chris Wadhams and Danny would drive by one of the Jane Does very slowly, after a fucked up day of cross examinations, and follow her in their car, staring at her trying to intimidate her? I do. Did you know that Alana Masterson would hide in the bathrooms after one of the Jane does had a massive panic attack on the stand and proceeded to harass her in the bathroom calling her a liar? What, you didn’t hear about that? Did your parents shield you from that? Your OSA parents. Or were you cool with that?
Doesn’t your church call that the fair game policy? Weren’t you just hanging out with Nasal Queef herself, (Bijoux Phillips) just a couple of days ago? Oh wait, she’s ok now because she divorced Danny? She sure had a grand ol’ time reading my wife’s police report in a mocking post. Remember how she screamed when they took Danny away? I bath in that moment every single fucking day. Careful homegirl, that Phillips curse is contagious, just read Mackenzie Phillips book. You should also read up on that fucking dingbat bijoux’s past behavior.
That is of course if the church allows you to read about her. They do have a policy about reading anything critical of the church and its members. Your church also has a bad snitching culture where u write knowledge reports on fellow members who are not “following” the teachings of L Ron Hubbard. Just like the East German stassi imposed on its citizens. Thats your church?
Today is the one year anniversary of having put that shit bag you thought was a “good guy” in jail. You can’t even say sorry to the Jane does properly huh? Your apology is worded as if you hired some PR crisis team to help you. As for you @linkinpark …. You should fire your entire team for not thoroughly vetting your choice. You’re a Disney level brand trying to make a comeback and you didn’t think to spend a little money on looking into her? Stop playing at the drive in’s music on your pre show playlist.”
