Linkin Park’s New Singer Emily Armstrong Is in Hot Water for the Exact Same Reasons as Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have kept out of the public eye for some time following the continued backlash over their support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson. Yet, as the dust settles on their controversy, another name emerges from the shadows: Emily Armstrong, the fresh voice of Linkin Park, who finds herself under similar scrutiny for her in-person support of Masterson at the very beginning of his trials.
Unlike the Hollywood power couple, Armstrong doesn’t have the luxury of fading into obscurity. As the new lead singer of Linkin Park, she’s thrust into the spotlight, especially with the band’s From Zero World Tour kicking off on September 11. And while the musician has over two decades of experience under her belt, including fronting the band Dead Sara, touring with Demi Moore, and even providing backing vocals on Courtney Love’s 2010 album Nobody’s Daughter, her association with Masterson has ignited a firestorm.
Kunis and Kutcher’s involvement with Masterson dates back to their time together on That ’70s Show. When Masterson was convicted in 2023 of two counts of rape, the couple’s letters to the judge requesting leniency became public, and the backlash was swift. Armstrong, similarly, attended an early hearing in support of Masterson in 2020, later expressing regret on Instagram: “Hi, I’m Emily,” she wrote in an Instagram story post on Friday, a little over 24 hours after she was announced as Linkin Park’s new lead singer. “I’m new to so many of you, and I wanted to clear the air about something that happened a while back.”
“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. 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,” she concluded.
Critics have been vocal. Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, one of Masterson’s accusers, did not mince words on Instagram, calling Armstrong “a hardcore Scientologist who supported [a] convicted serial rapist.” This raises questions about Armstrong’s ties to the Church of Scientology, a group notorious for its aggressive tactics, including alleged harassment of those involved in Masterson’s trial. Such associations have made some Linkin Park fans question whether Armstrong remains silent on these matters out of fear.
This controversy is compounded by the legacy of Chester Bennington, Linkin Park’s former lead singer who tragically died by suicide in 2017. Scientology’s stance against psychiatry — a field Bennington openly discussed for helping him — casts further doubt on Armstrong’s fit for the band. The juxtaposition of a reported Scientologist stepping into Bennington’s shoes feels discordant to many fans.
While cutting ties with lifelong friends is never straightforward — especially within insular circles like Scientology — Armstrong’s public persona and career with Linkin Park may depend on how she navigates this complex and precarious situation.
Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have left the Church of Scientology.