- Armstrong had previously supported Masterson during the trial in which he was convicted on two counts of rape
- The Dead Sara singer was revealed as Linkin Park’s new co-lead singer earlier this week
- At The Drive-In’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, an alleged victim of Masterson’s, responded furiously to Armstrong’s apology
New Linkin Park co-lead singer Emily Armstrong has issued a response to the critics of her appointment to the nu-metal legends, after a social media backlash referencing her previous support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
Armstrong is a member of the Church of Scientology, along with Masterson, and was labeled a ‘rape apologist’ for her support of the former actor. The Dead Sara singer was unveiled as Linkin Park’s new co-lead singer earlier this week as the band released their first new material since Chester Bennington tragically took his own life in 2017.
Taking to her Instagram story, Armstrong said in a statement, “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.”
Despite the statement, Armstrong’s words were not accepted as a suitable explanation by Cedric Bixler-Zavala, singer of At The Drive-In and husband of Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, who accused Masterson of sexual assault, although neither of his convictions were in relation to Carnell-Bixler’s accusations.
Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are both former members of Scientology and have accused the church of harassing them since they left in 2017, even claiming that members killed their dog after throwing raw meat laced with rat poison into their yard for it to eat.
Now, they are firing back at Armstrong for her apparent devotion to the church, with a Carnell-Bixler originally posting to her Instagram story“I’m surprised none of you wrote a letter on Danny Mastersons behalf since your corny ass singer showed up to support him in the prelims. Remember Emily? 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 from your awful cult… How do you reconcile the homophobia found in the teachings of [church founder L. Ron Hubbard’s] book Dianetics?”
Now, both Cedric and Chrissie have responded to Armstrong seperately, posting statements of their own, with Carnell-Bixler’s reading,
“Dear Emily,
“If you’re not going to speak out against the human and child trafficking cult in which you are apart of and in which you enable by remaining silent on the crimes you know about then you have no right to fill the shoes of Chester Bennington, a true advocate. I don’t give a fuck that you are very close to the serial rapist. I don’t give a fuck that you lied in your “apology” instagram story.
“I do care that you participated, after being asked, in the cruel intimidation of Jane Doe 1 with your cult pals at court. I do care that you didn’t once mention that you are a member of a child and human trafficking cult that covers up the abuses and rapes of CHILDREN and adults.
“I do care that your parents work for OSA (the office of special affairs) of the cult of Scientology which have been ordering attacks on me and my family which includes murdering my dogs in the most inhumane and evil ways. I do care that they have been attacking and harassing my fellow sister survivors. You don’t speak out against Scientology not because you’re terrified of them. You don’t speak out because you are one of them. Shame on Linkin Park.
“Fuck You.”
Bixler-Zavala’s statement, meanwhile, read…
“Emily, did you know that your friend Chris Wadhams and Danny would drive by one of the Jane Does very slowly, after a fucked up day of cross examinations, and follow her in their car, staring at her trying to intimidate her? I do. Did you know that Alana Masterson would hide in the bathrooms after one of the Jane does had a massive panic attack on the stand and proceeded to harass her in the bathroom calling her a liar? What, you didn’t hear about that? Did your parents shield you from that? Your OSA parents. Or were you cool with that?
“Doesn’t your church call that the fair game policy? Weren’t you just hanging out with Nasal Queef herself, (Bijoux Phillips) just a couple of days ago? Oh wait, she’s ok now because she divorced Danny? She sure had a grand ol’ time reading my wife’s police report in a mocking post. Remember how she screamed when they took Danny away? I bath in that moment every single fucking day. Careful homegirl, that Phillips curse is contagious, just read Mackenzie Phillips book. You should also read up on that fucking dingbat bijoux’s past behavior.
“That is of course if the church allows you to read about her. They do have a policy about reading anything critical of the church and its members. Your church also has a bad snitching culture where u write knowledge reports on fellow members who are not “following” the teachings of L Ron Hubbard. Just like the East German stassi imposed on its citizens. Thats your church?
“Today is the one year anniversary of having put that shit bag you thought was a “good guy” in jail. You can’t even say sorry to the Jane does properly huh? Your apology is worded as if you hired some PR crisis team to help you. As for you @linkinpark …. You should fire your entire team for not thoroughly vetting your choice. You’re a Disney level brand trying to make a comeback and you didn’t think to spend a little money on looking into her? Stop playing at the drive in’s music on your pre show playlist.”
