Linkin Park’s new singer Emily Armstrong has addressed her past friendship with Danny Masterson amid renewed scrutiny over her ties to the convicted rapist and the Church of Scientology.
In a statement released late Friday night, Armstrong acknowledged that she once considered Masterson a “friend” and attended one of his early court hearings as an “observer.”
“Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have,” Armstrong said. “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 concluded.
Armstrong did not mention Masterson by name in her statement. She also did not clarify her current relationship with the Church of Scientology.
Shortly after Armstrong was named the new singer of Linkin Park, The Mars Volta frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala and his wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, called attention to her alleged support of Masterson and her ties to Scientology.
“@linkinpark’s new lead singer is a hardcore Scientologist who supported convicted serial rapist both in and out of court,” Carnell-Bixler wrote in an Instagram Story. “Emily Armstrong is a true believer of the Scientology cult/criminal organization that engages in human and child trafficking, child and elder abuse, the coverups of countless SAs on children and adults. Also is a true believer of LRH who said Homosexuals are sexual deviants on the same level as pedophiles and all homosexuals should be sent off to a leper colony.”
In another Instagram Story post, Carnell-Bixler shared a resurfaced comment that Bixler-Zavala left last year on the Instagram account of Armstrong’s other band, Dead Sara. “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?” Bixler-Zavala wrote. “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.”
Bixler-Zavala continued, “Remember when we did the purification run down Emily? Were you directed to safe point me cuz of what my wife knew? Why can’t you shut your mouth during a detox program where people are going through some rough shit but your corny ass is singing like an unsupervised child? Is it cuz you’re a born in scientologist that gets a pass? How do you reconcile the homophobia found in the teachings of LRH’s book dianetics? Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend.”
Carnell-Bixler is one of the three women Masterson was charged with raping. The disgraced actor is a Scientologist, while both Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are former members of the Church and have disavowed it since departing.
Leading up to the trial, Carnell-Bixler was among four women who filed a separate lawsuit against Masterson and the Church of Scientology alleging the women had been “mercilessly stalked” by the Church after going to the police. In the court documents, Carnell-Bixler claimed she was run off the road and her dog was mysteriously killed.
Masterson was found guilty of forcible rape against two women in May 2023. The jury deadlocked on the charge for Carnell-Bixler’s allegation with an 8-4 vote in favor of conviction.
