<\/p>\n
\n\tLinkin Park\u2019s<\/a> return with new vocalist Emily Armstrong<\/a> has sparked controversy, with Chester Bennington\u2019s son, Jaime Bennington<\/a>, accusing Mike Shinoda<\/a> of \u201cquietly erasing my father\u2019s life and legacy in real time.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tJaime aired his grievances on social media following the band\u2019s Sept. 5 livestream event, where Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, was introduced as the band\u2019s new co-lead vocalist<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tThe announcement followed weeks of speculation as Linkin Park teased fans with a countdown<\/a> before revealing Armstrong as their new singer. They also released a new track, \u201cThe Emptiness Machine,\u201d<\/a> from their upcoming album From Zero<\/em>, which debuted at No. 24 on the\u00a0Rock & Alternative Airplay<\/a>\u00a0list.<\/p>\n \n\tArmstrong joins the band following the passing of Chester Bennington in 2017.<\/a><\/p>\n \n\tWhile many fans welcomed the band\u2019s new chapter, others expressed concerns about the band\u2019s new volcalist\u2019s past ties to Scientology and her previous association with convicted rapist Danny Masterson<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tIn response to the backlash, Armstrong issued a statement on Sept. 6 via Instagram to address the controversy. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cSeveral 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\u2019t have. I have never spoken with him since,\u201d she wrote. \u201cTo say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tDespite Armstrong\u2019s explanation, Jaime Bennington was deeply critical of Shinoda\u2019s decision to bring her into the band. <\/p>\n \n\tHe said via Instagram on Sept. 9, \u201cYou hired your friend of many years, Emily Armstrong, to replace Chester\u2026 knowing Emily\u2019s history in the church and her history as an ally to Danny Masterson.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tJaime did not hold back, accusing Shinoda of ignoring the impact this decision might have on the band\u2019s fanbase, particularly those affected by sexual violence. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYou quietly erase[d] my father\u2019s life and legacy in real time\u2026 during international suicide prevention month and refuse to acknowledge the impact of hiring someone like Emily, without so much as a clarifying statement on the variety of victims that make up your core fan base,\u201d Jaime said.<\/p>\n \n\tHis criticisms didn\u2019t stop there. He added, \u201cYou betrayed the trust loaned to you by decades of fans and supporting human beings including myself. We trusted you to be the bigger, better person. To be the change. Because you promised us that was your intention. Now you\u2019re just senile and tone deaf.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tAt the time of writing, neither Shinoda nor the band has publicly responded to Jaime Bennington\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n \n\tChester, who joined the band in 1999, became an icon with the release of their debut album Hybrid Theory<\/em> in 2000, followed by the highly successful Meteora<\/em> (2003). His sudden death in 2017 left a deep void, both in the band and among fans.<\/p>\n