Jaime Bennington, the son of the late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, has criticized the band’s decision to hire Emily Armstrong as their new singer.

Armstrong, co-founder of rock band Dead Sara, made her debut with Linkin Park on Sept. 5 in a live performance alongside new drummer Colin Brittain. The highly anticipated reveal came alongside news that the group will release its first new album since the death of frontman Chester Bennington, and an accompanying tour called “From Zero.” Bennington committed suicide in 2017.

Jaime expressed his disapproval on Instagram on Monday, writing in a story post that Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during International Suicide Prevention Month.”

He wrote several long paragraphs examining Armstrong’s past, noting her ties to the Church of Scientology and her support for Danny Masterson, who was convicted of raping two women and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in 2023.

Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, one of several women who have accused Masterson of sexual assault, also spoke out against Armstrong. Sharing an earlier post he made on Dead Sara’s Instagram page last year, Bixler-Zavalare wrote, “Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.”

Both Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are former Scientologists who said the church harassed them because of their allegations against Masterson.

Jaime added that Linkin Park had failed to “address the concerns of their diverse fan base” and that the music group’s recent actions “are not something people should get used to.” He added that the band had “betrayed the trust” of the fan base who “trusted that you are the bigger, better person. That you are the change. Because you promised us that was your intention.” He concluded, “Now you are just senile and insensitive.”

The nomination of Armstrong and Linkin Park’s new album “From Zero” has also sparked strong reactions from fans. Shinoda addressed the concerns in a Discord conversation, expressing his understanding of the public shock and outrage and urging a respectful discussion.

Armstrong issued her own statement on September 6, telling fans that she wanted to “make it clear” about her support for Masterson.

“I was asked to support someone I considered a friend at a court hearing and attended one of the first hearings as an observer. Soon after, I realized I should not have done that,” she wrote, adding that she has had no contact with Masterson since. “To be as clear as possible, I do not condone abuse or violence against women and I have compassion for the victims of these crimes,” she said.

Linkin Park, which now includes Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix and Joe Hahn in addition to Armstrong and Brittain, has planned a six-day arena tour with concerts in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota. The band’s new album will be released on November 15th.