When Linkin Park announced that Emily Armstrong from Dead Sara would be their new singer, she faced criticism because of her past connections with the Church of Scientology and support for convicted rapist Danny Masterson. On Friday, Armstrong addressed the issue. With that said, a Linkin Park singer did cry during the LA concert.
In an Instagram story, she explained that years ago she went to a court hearing to support someone she thought was a friend. She later realized she made a mistake and hasn’t spoken to him since. Armstrong clarified that she does not support abuse or violence against women and feels for the victims of these crimes.
“Hi, I’m Emily. 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.”
Danny Masterson, famous for That ’70s Show and The Ranch, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison last September. He was found guilty of two out of three charges of forcible rape. The accusations were related to incidents that happened between 2001 and 2003 at his home in Hollywood Hills. In 2020, Emily Armstrong went to one of Masterson’s court hearings, which appeared to show support for him.
On Reddit, people are talking about Emily Armstrong joining Linkin Park and the timing of the announcement. Some think that the band and their PR team might have been aware of past issues and timed the announcement to manage the situation better. Others believe the announcement was made at this time to avoid overshadowing the member’s new role.
Many people discuss “cancel culture” and how hard it is for people to make a comeback or apologize without getting a lot of criticism. Some users feel that everyone can make mistakes and later change their views, and it’s normal to distance yourself from problematic associations once you learn more.
There was also talk about “milkshake duck,” a term for someone who gets popular but then faces backlash when their past issues come to light.
