Chester Bennington’s son Jaime said in his Instagram story that some Linkin Park fans became aggressive towards him after he spoke out against the appointment of Emily Armstrong as the band’s new lead singer. Chester Bennington, who was Linkin Park’s lead singer for over a decade, committed suicide in 2017. Jamie criticized Armstrong’s hiring, among other things, because of her ties to Scientology and her past support of Danny Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women.

“There are a lot of people who don’t like me. A lot of people are saying really bad things to me right now,” Jamie said. “Honestly, I don’t think I feel safe going to the show because I don’t know who is around me. I don’t know who would recognize me or take it upon themselves to be aggressive towards me if I’m just there to watch the show. But I have to watch it.”

Linkin Park is preparing to release new music for the first time since Chester’s death. With Armstrong as lead singer, the band will release a new album and embark on a supporting tour titled “From Zero.” Linkin Park will play a show in Los Angeles on September 11, which Jamie plans to attend despite harassment from fans.

“The audience itself could be dangerous for me. … I feel it is necessary to acknowledge the seriousness of my situation, the way people are treating me,” Jamie said. “So many of these Linkin Park fans who are going to come have been cruel, unusual and aggressive.”

“All these people come up to me and say, ‘You don’t know what your father would think,'” he later continued. “You come to my posts and livestreams and tell me to kill myself, that I’m horrible, that my father doesn’t value me. What are you talking about? You didn’t give a shit when he died. If you didn’t give a shit, you would understand what the problem is. You would understand why this is all wrong. I understand because I’m his child.”

In a follow-up statement to his Instagram story, Jamie wrote to Linkin Park fans: “Please do not harass me and my partner while attending the show. With all due respect, we are here to find closure.”

“If anything happens to me or my partner while attending the concert, it will be Linkin Park’s fault,” he concluded.

In his original statements about Armstrong’s hiring, Jamie wrote that Linkin Park “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time… during International Suicide Prevention Month.” He added that the band had “betrayed the trust” of the fan base who “trusted that you were the bigger, better person. That you were the change. Because you promised us that was your intention.” He concluded, “Now you’re just senile and insensitive.”

Armstrong issued her own statement on September 6 because she wanted to “make things clear” about her support for Masterson.

“I was asked to assist 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.”

Linkin Park has now 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.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.