Last year, Linkin Park released their first new album without late frontman Chester Bennington. Their return with new vocalist Emily Armstrong has since split fan opinions. While most seem to celebrate the band’s comeback, others are a bit more critical.
Now, co-lead singer and founding member Mike Shinoda has cheekily responded to critics of this new era of Linkin Park.
In a photo shared by Linkin Park Live, Shinoda is seen wearing a shirt that appears to playfully mock the negative press surrounding the band’s return.
The shirt in question features an image of a bad review the band recently received by Stereogum, the headline of which reads: “Linkin Park continue to fumble their epic return.”
The author of the article, Abby Jones, has since seen the photo of Shinoda wearing the shirt, commenting about it on Twitter/X.
“Thrilled to announce I have reached the ‘artists wearing t-shirts printed with my disparaging remarks about them’ milestone of my career,” she wrote.
Despite the band’s mixed reception since the addition of Armstrong, their new album “From Zero” has been a commercial success. The record debuted at No. 1 in multiple countries and No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while also debuting at the top of Billboards’ Top Rock Albums, Top Alternative Albums, and Top Hard Rock Albums charts.
Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda sheds a tear as his band continue to fumble their epic return pic.twitter.com/pFuI8U3e8Y
— a.🍍| fan account (@BroodingAnanas) June 29, 2025
