The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala recirculated a sharp criticism of Linkin Park’s new vocalist, Emily Armstrong, over her ties to the Church of Scientology and alleged support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson.
“Do your fans know about your friend Danny Masterson? Your rapist friend,” Bixler-Zavala wrote in a comment posted on the Instagram page of Armstrong’s band, Dead Sara, last year.
Bixler-Zavala’s wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, was one of several women who accused Masterson of sexual assault. While the actor was not convicted on the charges tied to her allegations, he was found guilty on charges brought by two other Jane Doe accusers. Carnell-Bixler is also part of a civil suit against Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.
Bixler-Zavala and Carnell-Bixler are also both former Scientologists, and they’ve long accused the Church of Scientology of harassing them over their pursuit of justice against Masterson, a prominent Scientologist himself. Armstrong has ties to Scientology, too: There’s a photo (featured above) of her and Bixler-Zavala at the Scientology Celebrity Centre in 2013 for a gala celebrating the Church’s 44th anniversary; and in 2020, Armstrong showed up to the courthouse ostensibly to support Masterson during his trial (via journalist/Scientology watchdog Tony Ortega.)
Last year, Bixler-Zavala left a comment on Dead Sara’s Instagram page, which he screen grabbed and reposted on his Stories following the announcement that she’d joined Linkin Park. (It appears Bixler-Zavala has since deleted the story, but it’s still up on Carnell-Bixler’s Stories.)
“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,” Bixler-Zavala said. “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 [L. Ron Hubbard] book Dianetics?” (A rep for Linkin Park and Armstrong did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment.)
In a Story of her own, Carnell-Bixler called Armstrong a “hardcore Scientologist who supported convicted serial rapist both in and out of court” (referring to Masterson, though not mentioning him by name). “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 [sexual assaults] on children and adults.” (The Church has faced numerous trafficking and abuse claims over the years, which it has denied.)