Chester Bennington's son recently criticized Linkin Park founder Mike Shinoda for the decision to replace his late father with vocalist Emily Armstrong. The band had announced their return after a seven-year hiatus following Chester's tragic death by suicide in 2017. Jaime Bennington expressed his disapproval on Instagram, questioning the choice to hire Armstrong as a replacement for his father. He also raised concerns about Armstrong's alleged connections to the Church of Scientology and convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
Jaime accused the band of disregarding his father's legacy and impact by introducing Armstrong as the new lead vocalist during Suicide Prevention Month. He expressed disappointment in Shinoda for what he perceived as a betrayal of the fans' trust and a failure to honor Chester's memory. Mars Volta lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife also joined the criticism, highlighting Armstrong's silence on Scientology-related issues.
