The excitement surrounding the Linkin Park reunion and the announcement of the new frontwoman, Emily Armstrong, was short-lived, as a series of criticisms immediately hit the singer. The one who raised his voice was Cedric Bixler-Zavala of the Mars Volta who, on the social media of Armstrong's band, Dead Sara, criticized the singer for having supported her fellow Scientologist, the actor Danny Masterson, accused (and later found guilty) of rape.
“Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend,” Bixler-Zavala wrote, noting Emily’s support for Masterson during the trial (she also appeared in court in support of the actor in 2020). The musician continued, “Remember Emily? Remember when your Scientology friends surrounded one of the anonymous accusers when she was trying to get out of the elevator? The police had to escort her away from your horrible cult.”
Bixler-Zavala’s wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, was one of several women who accused Masterson of sexual assault. The actor pleaded guilty to the charges brought by two unnamed women last September and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Carnell-Bixler is also a party to a civil lawsuit against Masterson.
Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are both former Scientologists and have long blamed the Church of Scientology for what happened with Masterson. Armstrong also has ties to Scientology: a photo of her and Bixler-Zavala at Scientology’s Celebrity Centre in 2013 for a gala celebrating the Church’s 44th anniversary resurfaced online.
Carnell-Bixler could not fail to intervene, calling Armstrong on her social media: “a hardened follower who has supported a serial rapist in and out of court”. Adding: “Emily Armstrong is a true believer in the Scientology cult/criminal organization that engages in human and child trafficking, child and elder abuse, and the cover-up of countless [aggressioni sessuali] on children and adults.” Carnell-Bixler also recalled how Chester Bennington, the late former leader of Linkin Parke and a friend of Bixler-Zavala, had also been a victim of abuse as a child.
Neither Emily Armstrong nor Linkin Park have yet to comment on the matter.
Translation from Rolling Stone US.