Susan Eubanks, mother of late Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, has publicly condemned the band for their decision to replace him with new singer Emily Armstrong without notifying the family. In interviews, she expressed feeling 'betrayed' and believes the band is attempting to erase Bennington's legacy by performing his songs with Armstrong. Eubanks learned about the reunion and Armstrong's hiring via Google, which she found hurtful, especially as she had previously been promised updates on the band's future. She also highlighted past comments from guitarist Mike Shinoda suggesting that Bennington could be replaced by a female vocalist, which left her son feeling 'dumbfounded and hurt.' Eubanks’ sentiments were echoed by Bennington’s son, Jamie, who criticized the band's choice of Armstrong, particularly due to her controversial ties to Scientology. The band, meanwhile, aims to frame their reunion as a new chapter rather than a dismissal of the past.