Emily Armstrong's Linkin Park debut marred by alleged ties to Danny Masterson and Scientology

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA:  Emily Armstrong’s debut with Linkin Park has been clouded by controversy ahead of her first performance.

Rumors about Armstrong’s alleged connections to Scientology have fueled debate and concern among fans and critics alike. Her past support for actor Danny Masterson, sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for r**ing two women, has further complicated the situation. 

The 38-year-old made her debut with the band at a live-streamed concert in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 5.

Following her official confirmation, the band released their latest single, 'The Emptiness Machine', marking their first collaboration with Emily Armstrong. The track is included in Linkin Park's forthcoming studio album, 'From Zero', which is scheduled for release on November 15.

Emily Armstrong’s alleged Scientology and Danny Masterson links

Amidst Linkin Park inviting her as a vocalist into the band, there have been claims online suggesting that she may have been a member of the Church of Scientology since she was photographed at their 44th Anniversary Gala in 2013.

 However, whether Emily is still linked to the controversial church and the depth of her association with the controversial church is not known.

Additionally, the co-founder of the band Dead Sara was reported to have been present at the trial of the actor Danny Masterson in 2022 to provide support. However, whether she supported him after he was convicted of two counts of r*pe is not known. These past associations led many to make their own conclusions and slam Emily. 

Amidst these allegations, social media users have criticized Linkin Park and Emily Armstrong. A user posted a comment suggesting that the band's deceased lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, would not have endorsed Emily's involvement. 

“Sick of seeing people excited about this new Linkin Park singer. Emily Armstrong is a known Scientologist and Danny Masterson supporter. Chester wouldn’t have wanted this, I know that,” the user wrote.

Many others have expressed similar sentiments on X (formerly Twitter). 

Another added, “She showed up in support of Masterson at his trial - there are also photos of her at a Scientology Gala.”

One commentator wrote, “I was f**king crying out of hype and excitement, only for all of that to be washed away the instant I saw this info doing a picosecond of research. Honestly, I'm angriest not even for myself but for the fact they're allowing this to tarnish the band's legacy.”

Some have defended Emily Armstrong, noting that her alleged past ties to Scientology or presence at a friend's trial do not necessarily implicate her in any misconduct, and thus, she merits the presumption of innocence.

“A single gala appearance from a decade ago, and an Instagram comment screenshot that is clearly altered. I don’t support Masterson or Scientology in any way, but even I can tell the “receipts” you have are a stretch. Feel free to block me, I’m not interested in an argument,” a netizen wrote.

“A thought occurred rereading... she went to support her friend, but is there any evidence she supported him after he was found guilty? Because it's one thing to support a friend who you think might be innocent and another to support him after he was proven to do awful stuff,” another netizen wrote.

Linkin Park's new single and album mark a fresh start with Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain

On Thursday, September 5,  Linkin Park released their latest single 'The Emptiness Machine', which will be featured on their upcoming full-length album 'From Zero', scheduled for release later this year by Warner Records. The band's previous album, 'One More Light', was released in 2017, two months prior to lead vocalist Chester Bennington's passing.

In addition to Emily Armstrong, the California-based rock group is welcoming another new member. Colin Brittain, known for his songwriting and production work with G Flip, Illenium, and One OK Rock, is poised to join as the lead drummer.

According to a band's press release, the remaining members sought to "restart" after the sudden passing of Chester. They collaborated with various musicians and eventually “found a special kinship with Armstrong and Brittain.”

"Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we're currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future - embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans," co-founder Mike Shinoda stated.

Additionally, he said that their most recent song will symbolize their "journey ahead" and "channel the DNA" of the band. The lead guitarist went on to say that Emily and Colin are "world-class talents" and that Linkin Park feels "really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we've made together." 

Linkin Park gave their inaugural performance in Los Angeles on September 5 and will commence the From Zero World Tour this fall. The tour will span across New York, LA, Hamburg, London, Seoul, and Bogota from September 11 to November 11.