Chester Bennington’s Son Criticizes Linkin Park’s Reunion

Linkin Park recently announced that Emily Armstrong is their new vocalist, but this decision has not been without controversy. The band has received backlash partly due to Armstrong’s past defense of Danny Masterson, a fellow Scientologist who was tried for raping women. This controversy comes while Linkin Park has remained silent on the issue.

Jaime Bennington’s Criticism of the Reunion

Just added to the mix is Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, who has openly criticized Linkin Park for their reunion. In a series of Instagram stories, Jaime slammed the band for hiring Armstrong despite knowing her involvement with Scientology. He remarked, “[Linkin Park] quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time not only during a band interview meant to clear the air about certain aspects of Linkin Park’s history and future, but during international suicide prevention month.” He also described Linkin Park as “senile and tone deaf,” and accused Mike Shinoda, a member of the band, of always planning to continue the band after his father’s death.

Jaime didn’t stop there. He posted more stories on Instagram, which were captured by TMZ, where he mentioned that he would be attending Linkin Park’s show on September 11 but noted that the band’s management had not reached out to him. “While attending the show please do not harass me or my partner,” Jaime wrote. “Respectfully, we are attending for closure. For acknowledgement.”

Mike Shinoda recently talked about the decision to continue with the band’s name in an interview with Q101. Shinoda explained, “In the middle of the process, we were open to, like, maybe the lineup is like a moving lineup, maybe there’s multiple vocalists, maybe it’s a different name, stuff like that.” He added, “And then as the music came into focus, we were, like, ‘This is as Linkin Park an album as we could make. It’s so Linkin Park that if we call it something else, then we are idiots.’ Because it would be like misrepresentation. It’d be silly. And when people hear more of the album, they will understand that.”

Tensions Over Chester Bennington’s Legacy

For Jaime Bennington, the actions of Linkin Park feel like a disrespect to his father’s memory, especially given the timing during Suicide Prevention Month. His feelings are complicated by the band’s perceived silence and their decision to move forward under the same name.

While the band believes that their new music aligned closely with their existing style and legacy, Jaime feels it undermines his father’s contributions. His harsh words about the band’s management and Shinoda’s intentions suggest deeper conflicts about how best to remember and honor Chester Bennington’s legacy.

In interviews, Shinoda and other members have expressed that their return felt right and authentic, believing their new album is like what fans would expect from Linkin Park. “When people hear more of the album, they will understand that,” Shinoda said. Yet, Jaime’s criticisms point to the importance of considering the feelings and perspectives of those closely affected by such decisions.

When Jaime announced he would attend the band’s show, he used the term “closure,” which indicates his need to reconcile the new direction of the band with his personal feelings. Attending a concert for such mixed reasons certainly puts a strain on how he interacts with the music and the band’s fans. He asked for respect and space at the show, a subtle reminder of the complexities that come with navigating personal loss and public legacy.