New Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong responds to criticism of her support for Danny Masterson

No sooner had Linkin Park announced Dead Sara singer Emily Armstrong as the new singer of the reformed band than a torrent of criticism erupted over her past ties to the Church of Scientology and her past support of convicted rapist and actor Danny Masterson. Late Friday, she responded:

“Hi, I'm Emily,” she wrote in an Instagram story post. “I'm new to many of you and I wanted to clarify something that happened a while ago.

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“A few years ago I was asked to assist someone I considered a friend in court and attended one of the first hearings as an observer. Soon after, I realized I shouldn't have done that. I always try to see the good in people and I misjudged him. I have never spoken to him since.

“Unimaginable details came to light and he was later found guilty.

“To be as clear as possible: I do not tolerate abuse or violence against women and I have compassion for the victims of these crimes.”

Masterson, a former star of the hit Fox sitcom “That '70s Show” and the Netflix series “The Ranch,” was named a 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of two of three counts of rape earlier this year. Masterson was accused of raping three women in his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003, during his time on That '70s Show.

Leading the criticism of Armstrong were Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, who was one of several women who accused Masterson of sexual assault. He was not convicted on their charges but was found guilty of charges brought by two other anonymous accusers.

“Do your fans know about your boyfriend Danny Masterson? Your rapist boyfriend,” Bixler-Zavala wrote in a reposted comment on Dead Sara's Instagram page last year.

In 2020, Armstrong attended one of Masterson's court hearings, presumably as a show of support.

Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler, both former Scientologists, said the church harassed them because of their allegations against Masterson, who is also a Scientologist.

He wrote on the band's page: “I'm surprised none of you wrote a letter on behalf of Danny Masterson, since your stupid singer showed up at the prelims to support him. Remember Emily? Remember how your Scientologist thugs surrounded one of the unknowns as she tried to exit the elevators? The court sheriffs had to lead her away from your horrible cult… How do you reconcile yourself with the homophobia that is embedded in the teachings of [church founder L. Ron Hubbard’s] Book Dianetics?” At the time of publication of this article, Armstrong had not yet responded to Scientology's comments.

A Linkin Park spokesperson asked for comment and declined diversity on Armstrong's statement. Variety will have more on this story as it develops.

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