The Daily Beast reported Emily Armstrong, the new lead singer of Linkin Park, has been revealed to have deep ties to Scientology, according to internal records from the church, the FBI, and former members. Armstrong grew up in a Scientology-run dormitory for the children of the most dedicated members, known as the Sea Org. She and her family were heavily involved in the controversial church, with her mother, Gail, working in Scientology’s “intelligence” unit and writing speeches for the church’s leaders. Emily Armstrong was also accused of trying to intimidate a victim of Danny Masterson, a former Scientologist accused of rape, though she has denied this.
Armstrong’s past as a Scientologist has raised some concerns. Chester Bennington’s son, Jaime, criticized Linkin Park for choosing a Scientologist as the new lead singer, saying it erased his father’s legacy. Despite these controversies, Armstrong’s rise in Scientology is seen as part of the church’s celebrity strategy, with famous members like John Travolta and Tom Cruise already bringing attention to the group.
In September 2020, Emily Armstrong publicly supported That 70s Show star Danny Masterson, a Scientologist, during his trial for allegedly raping three women.
Masterson was later found guilty of raping two women and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The third case ended without a verdict because the jury couldn’t agree.
One of the women, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, a former Scientologist, claimed that Armstrong attended the trial as a dedicated Scientologist. Bixler accused her of being part of a group that tried to intimidate one of the victims. Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Chrissie’s husband and a former Scientologist, supported her accusations.
Photos showed Armstrong and Cedric attending a Church of Scientology event in 2013. After media outlets reported the claims, Armstrong posted on Instagram, saying she had “misjudged” Masterson, regretted attending the trial, and had since stopped speaking to him.
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.
The Church of Scientology denied being involved in Masterson’s trial, saying attendees were simply exercising their right to attend a public hearing. The church dismissed Bixler’s accusations as baseless and part of a civil lawsuit seeking money from Masterson and Scientology. Carnell Bixler, her husband, and two other women suing Masterson and the church claim they’ve faced retaliation for speaking out. Scientology denies these allegations, stating there is no evidence to support them. The Bixlers declined to comment.
Growing up, Armstrong lived in a dormitory for Scientology’s Cadet Org in Los Angeles, where children of Sea Org members were kept. These children were often neglected, living in poor conditions with little contact with their parents. The children were also trained in Scientology’s practices, including spying on each other and watching propaganda films about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Armstrong later attended a Scientology-run school and eventually joined the Sea Org.
Armstrong’s early life in Scientology has been described as harsh, with children being forced to do labor, such as working in an orchard late into the night. Some former members even reported cruel punishments, like being made to eat next to a dumpster. Despite these reports, Scientology defends its treatment of children, claiming they were given a good education and upbringing.
As Linkin Park’s new lead singer, Armstrong is now one of the most well-known faces in Scientology. However, her history with the church remains a point of contention for many, especially given the negative public attention surrounding Scientology.
View post on imgur.com
