Jaime Bennington has raised concerns about Linkin Park’s handling of his late father Chester Bennington’s merchandise. This follows the band’s recent concert cancellation in Bern due to health issues, as reported by Jamie on Instagram.
The accusation centers on the discovery that the Chester Bennington Store website now redirects visitors directly to Linkin Park’s official website. Jaime connected this redirect to the band’s explanation for their cancelled performance.
“When Linkin Park explains the cancellation [of the Bern show], they will also explain why the Chester Bennington Store now leads directly to the Linkin Park website??” Jaime Bennington said.
Jaime shared Little Simz’s song “Thief” alongside his statement to emphasize his stance on the matter. This suggests he views the band’s actions as theft.
The merchandise dispute highlights the ongoing financial complexities surrounding Chester Bennington’s estate and legacy management since his passing in 2017.
Alfreton Town Football Club reported that merchandise played a significant role in building Chester Bennington’s $30 million estate. This estate included music rights and royalties. The Chester Bennington Store was originally promoted as official merchandise created by his estate to honor his legacy. This makes the current redirect to Linkin Park’s site particularly contentious for family members.
The financial stakes remain substantial even years after Chester’s death. Finance Monthly revealed that the band’s catalog continues to generate millions annually. The estate reportedly earns roughly $8.1 million from music licensing rights alone. This ongoing revenue stream makes control over merchandise sales a significant concern for the Bennington family.
Legal documents show that Chester Bennington left his entire estate to his wife, Talinda, and his six children, as Blabbermouth confirmed. This would presumably include rights to his name and likeness for merchandise purposes. The current website redirect raises questions about whether these estate rights are being properly respected.
The controversy emerged after Linkin Park cancelled their Bern concert, citing health-related issues. Jaime’s accusations bring renewed attention to how the estate’s merchandise revenues are managed amid the band’s continued commercial success.
You can see Jaime Bennington’s posts on Instagram below.
