Late Chester Bennington’s son Jamie Bennington recently reacted to Chester’s mother, Susan Eubanks, blasting the band for the band replacing Chester with Emily, something Jamie has done in the past.
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Susan Eubanks said that the band assured her that she would be notified about any future changes if the members carried on as a band. However, Eubanks stated that she felt “betrayed” when the band hired Emily as Bennington’s replacement.
Here is what Eubanks said: “I feel betrayed. They told me that if they were ever going to do something, they would let me know. They didn’t let me know, and they probably knew that I wouldn’t going to be very happy. I’m very upset about it. I feel like they’re trying very hard to erase the past. They’re performing songs that Chester sang. And I don’t know how the fans are taking it, but I know how I take it. And having [Armstrong] singing my son’s songs is hurtful. They said they would let the family know if they were going to reunite. They did not. [Bennington’s first wife] Samantha and [son] Draven didn’t know until it was told to the world. It was the same for me and it hurt. I have seen Joe Hahn a few times since Chester died. The last time was maybe four, five years ago. And he promised that he would let me know what was going on, and he didn’t have any intention of starting the band back up.”
Eubanks noted that Bennington’s first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, and their son Draven (22), were also unaware that Linkin Park were reuniting with Armstrong until they announced it to the world.
She then alleged that over the last couple of years, both Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda personally made a promise to her that they would fill her in on any happenings with Linkin Park. Hahn and Shinoda apparently let Olit and Draven know when they were planning to share the previously unreleased tracks that Bennington sang on (“Lost,” “Friendly Fire” and etc.).
Jamie Bennington reacts
Jamie took to his social media account and shared his thoughts on the matter. He wrote: “I am glad that Susan was able to speak to @rollingstone It’s challenging to read this, however.”
In another Instagram story, he wrote: “To hear that Mike Shinoda attempted to build a relationship with Samantha and Draven… after everything I’ve been through with all of them.”
Jamie added: “And this time to Chester’s mother… To hear that Mike lied again. And that he doesn’t care.”
His final story read: “And to know that Susan was happy to do an interview with @rollingstone but not willing to pick up the phone. Not willing to talk about that horrible hateful thing Samantha and Draven did to me in July.”
Linkin Park recently unveiled a new single titled “The Emptiness Machine” from their upcoming album From Zero which marks the band’s first release of new music in several years. The band performed in a live stream event on September 5th to announce their comeback. The addition of Emily Armstrong drew mixed reactions from the fans and Mike Shinoda also addressed the same. However, Chester’s widow, Talinda Bennington seemingly approved of the band’s choice to replace Chester.
