Chester Bennington’s Son Blasts Linkin Park For Replacing His Late Dad With New Singer
Jaime Bennington, the eldest child of the late Linkin Park lead vocalist Chester Bennington, is up in arms over the band’s new singer.
The rock band announced Thursday that the surviving members of Linkin Park are reuniting with two new bandmates – Dead Sara singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain — for an upcoming album and tour, nearly seven years after Chester Bennington died by suicide.
The rocker, who sang hits like “Numb,” is survived by his six children.
Over the weekend, Jaime Bennington, 28, blasted band member Mike Shinoda in his Instagram Stories, BuzzFeed reports.
He criticized Shinoda for hiring Armstrong, “your friend of many years,” knowing her “history as an ally” to convicted rapist and actor Danny Masterson and, through Masterson, her ties to the Church of Scientology.
Bennington went on to slam the band for “quietly eras[ing] my father’s life and legacy in real time […] during international suicide prevention month” and “refus[ing] to acknowledge the impact of hiring someone like Emily, without so much as a clarifying statement on the variety of victims that make up your core fan base.”
In a separate message, Bennington claimed Shinoda “betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself.”
“We trusted you to be the bigger better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention. Now you’re just senile and tone deaf,” he added.
Last week, Armstrong addressed the backlash she’s received on social media since being brought on as the new Linkin Park vocalist.
“Several years ago, I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court appearance, and went to one early hearing as an observer,” she wrote on Instagram Friday, without naming Masterson, according to BuzzFeed. “Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have. I always try to see the good in people and I misjudged him. I have never spoken with him since. Unimaginable details emerged and he was later found guilty.”
“To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes,” Armstrong added.
Masterson was accused of raping three women at his home in Hollywood Hills between 2001 and 2003, during his tenure on “That 70’s Show.” The actor was convicted on two of the rape charges and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in September 2023. Prosecutors said Scientology officials had protected Masterson, a prominent Scientologist, for years.
On Monday, Bennington claimed in an Instagram video that he’s been getting death threats from “cruel” and “aggressive” fans.
“So many of these Linkin Park fans who will be attending [the tour] have been cruel, unusual and aggressive,” Bennington said, Variety reports. “You’re coming over to my posts and my livestreams and telling me to kill myself, that I’m awful, that my father doesn’t appreciate me.
“What are you talking about?” he went on. You didn’t give a fuck when he died. If you did, you would understand what the problem is. You would understand why this is all wrong. I do because I’m his kid.”
Linkin Park is slated to go on a six-date arena tour, which kicks off in Los Angeles on Sept. 11. The band’s new album, “From Zero,” is set to be released Nov. 15.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.