Easier to Run: The Price of Ignoring Emily Armstrong’s Past
CONTIBUTING AUTHOR Hannah
This summer, a cryptic 100-hour countdown has been slowly ticking away on Linkin Park’s social media. Some time after the clock hit zero—and began counting upwards once more—Linkin Park revealed Emily Armstrong (Dead Sara) as their new co-lead vocalist, at a secret event in Los Angeles on September 5.
Initially regarded with a flurry of online attention, excitement, and even anger that a woman dare step into the void left by the beloved Chester Bennington, Armstrong received a mixed reception. Speaking to Billboard, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mike Shinoda admitted that the response was always a matter of uncertainty: “Emily was always going to be able to hit the notes and scream the parts. It’ll be a question of, ‘How does it land with people?’ And I don’t know how it will. But I know that, when I hear it, I love it.”
There’s certainly no doubt that Armstrong can hold her own as Linkin Park’s vocalist. At the secretive September 5th event, Armstrong proved her capabilities as the band played several hits, including “Numb,” “Crawling,” and “Somewhere I Belong.” For all intents and purposes, Linkin Park’s big, mysterious announcement was a success.
And yet, within hours, the excitement waned. As it turns out, Armstrong is a lifelong member of the Church of Scientology, a religious movement that is often considered to be a dangerous cult, business, and even a scam. Well-known for its connections to suspicious disappearances, murders, fraud, and enslavement, Scientology is widely controversial—though the religion initially presents itself as a place of equality for women. Unfortunately, it is also a breeding ground for sexual harassment and abuse.
When actor Danny Masterson—a Scientologist and convicted rapist—was tried for his crimes, the Church of Scientology exerted extreme pressure upon his accusers in an attempt to prevent them from speaking out. One of the women alleged that the church stalked her, hacked her email, falsely put her belongings up for sale, and even broke a window at her home. The church’s attempts to interfere with the trial and silence victims resulted in a 20-year delay of justice. And yet, their intimidation tactics failed: four women testified against Masterson, resulting in two convictions and a sentence of 30 years to life. Despite this, members of the Church of Scientology continued to express their support for Masterson with Emily Armstrong among them.
“Remember how your fellow [Scientologist] goon squad surrounded one of the Jane Doe’s when she was trying to leave the elevators? The court sheriffs had to escort her away…” alleged Cedric Bixler-Zavala (Mars Volta) in an Instagram comment last year. “Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.” Actress Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, Bixler-Zavala’s wife and one of the women who accused Masterson of sexual assault, also spoke up this week: “Linkin Park's new lead singer is a hardcore Scientologist who supported convicted serial rapist both in and out of court.”
This concerning information was quickly spread, and pushback against Armstrong warped from the expected typical misogyny of the internet into real, widespread concern. How much of this was known by the other members of Linkin Park? Was Armstrong hired with the full knowledge and understanding of her past, of the PR burden she’s brought to the table? Did her bandmates look at the hollow void left by Chester Bennington, a survivor of sexual assault, and decide that someone who stood by a rapist on trial was the right choice? This remains unclear and unaddressed by Armstrong’s fellow members of Linkin Park.
“If we accept scraps, then we will only be given scraps,” Metal Muse Magazine contributor Amanda writes to me, the day after Linkin Park announced that Armstrong would be stepping into Chester Bennington’s shoes. Initially, we had both been excited about the news, but that excitement had quickly dissolved into something more somber. To write a glowing, spirited article about Armstrong would be to fail the women in the metal scene that we intend to uplift and protect. Representation for women is important: leading roles within well-renowned bands should not be so slim that we jump at the chance to celebrate anyone, regardless of their past. Accepting Armstrong’s past support of Danny Masterson should not be the price that is paid just to see a woman fronting Linkin Park, or any big-name band for that matter.
It must be acknowledged that Armstrong quickly released a statement regarding her past support of Danny Masterson:
“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.”
Armstrong may not condone abuse or violence against women, but the Church of Scientology does. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & The Prison Of Belief, a HBO documentary based on Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name, outlines horrors that lead back to L. Ron Hubbard, the church’s founder. In Going Clear, Hubbard’s ex-wife claims he often assaulted her—even hitting her across the face with a pistol—and abducted their 13-month-old child. Hubbard’s successor, David Miscavige, has been accused of abusing members of the church as well as his own wife, Shelly.
The accusations are nearly never-ending. The Church of Scientology reigns over its members with an iron fist; weaponizing threats, violence, and religion to keep women subservient and quiet. Though Armstrong has now condemned Danny Masterson’s actions, it’s hard to take her at her word as she has been a part of the Church of Scientology since birth, however, many of the people in her position are also victims of the church’s cult manipulation.
The truth is, it’s too soon to know where Emily Armstrong stands, or what price may be paid by standing behind her. Blindly supporting someone with such a recent, concerning past is not conducive to creating a safe space for women in the metal scene. If we turn our cheek to the women who were assaulted by Danny Masterson so that we can scream the words that Chester Bennington once sang, we’re no better than the men who cultivate misogyny and bad behavior. Loud and unapologetic support for women in metal includes holding each other accountable. We should all be allowed the chance to change, to grow and develop our views and values, but that does not absolve us from having to confront our past.
And the final question remains: what are you willing to accept in exchange for women in leading roles in the metal scene? To be a feminist is to call out harmful behavior when you see it—and to open yourself up to those very same critiques. Are you willing to compromise your own values? Does your trust in Armstrong weigh more than your belief in what’s right? Unfortunately for Linkin Park, that’s not a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
