Linkin Park‘s legacy has always carried a lot of emotional weight, especially for fans who idolized Chester Bennington. However, in the aftermath of his death in 2017, the situation has become even more complicated, particularly for Chester’s son, Jaime Bennington.
In recent days, Jaime has faced a storm of criticism and aggressive behavior from Linkin Park fans after speaking out against Emily Armstrong, the band’s new lead singer. Jaime expressed concerns about Armstrong, who has ties to Scientology and previously supported convicted rapist Danny Masterson. The move drew heavy backlash — but he has answers to that as well.
Jaime Bennington Faces Backlash For Criticizing Emily Armstrong
Jaime Bennington took to his Instagram Story to voice his frustrations and shared how some fans have gone beyond criticism to downright hostility. “There are a lot of people who do not like me. There are a lot of people saying some really awful shit right now to me,” Jaime shared on his Instagram story.
“To be honest, I don’t think I feel safe going to the show under general admission because I don’t know who I’m around. I don’t know who would recognize me or take it upon themselves to respond to me in an aggressive manner when I’m just there to see the show. But I do need to see it,” he added.
Related: Linkin Park Reinvent Themselves With New Female Singer 7 Years After Chester Bennington’s Death
In his posts, Jaime detailed how some Linkin Park supporters have been relentlessly harassing him online. “So many of these Linkin Park fans who will be attending have been cruel, unusual, and aggressive,” Jaime stated.
He further shared that he has been receiving disturbing messages, including comments about his father’s death, which have deeply affected him. “All these people come over to me and go, ‘You don’t know what your dad would think,'” Jaime wrote.
“You’re coming over to my posts and my livestreams and telling me to kill myself, that I’m awful, that my father doesn’t appreciate me. What are you talking about? You didn’t give a fuck when he died. If you did, you would understand what the problem is. You would understand why this is all wrong. I do because I’m his kid,” he wrote.
Linkin Park’s New Chapter And A Troubling Future
Linkin Park is set to release their first album since Chester Bennington’s death, with Armstrong as the lead vocalist. They’ve also announced a supporting tour, with Jaime planning to attend their upcoming show in Los Angeles. But he’s made it clear: if he or his partner faces any harassment at the concert, he holds Linkin Park responsible.
In a follow-up Instagram post, Jaime wrote, “While attending the show, please do not harass me or my partner. Respectfully, we are attending for closure.” As he put it bluntly, “If anything happens to me or my partner while we are attending this concert, it is on Linkin Park.”
Jaime has a point, though — shouldn’t the band be doing more to address the growing tension between him and some of their fans? For now, he continues to stand his ground, even as he deals with intense backlash.
In Case You Missed: “You Quietly Erased My Father’s Life And Legacy”: Chester Bennington’s Son Slams Linkin Park For Disrespecting The Singer
The drama isn’t just one-sided either. Armstrong, in response to the controversy, issued her own statement distancing herself from Danny Masterson. “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,” she said.
Linkin Park is now scheduled for a six-date arena tour with concerts that include stops in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota. The band’s new album will arrive Nov. 15th.
