Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has stood by her political views after being left out of the girl group’s much-awaited reunion tour, claiming her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made her a “liability” to the project. The 43-year-old singer was conspicuously missing from the PCD Forever Tour announcement in March, which featured only three original members — Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts — whilst Sutta, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton were left out entirely. Speaking on “The Maverick Approach” podcast on 22 March, Sutta disclosed she had been blindsided by the reunion and alleged that her alignment with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, combined with her public health advocacy following her own health challenges, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Left Members Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March came as a shock to a number of original members who were noticeably excluded from the lineup. Sutta revealed that neither she, Bachar nor Thornton received advance notice of the reunion, learning about it instead via rumours and press coverage. She claimed she attempted several times to reach out to founder Robin Antin before the news broke publicly, only managing to reach the choreographer on the night the tour was announced. “None of us were called. None of us were told about anything,” Sutta explained. “In fact, we were caught off guard.”/p

The removal from consideration proved particularly painful for Sutta due to her deep attachment to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger rang the next day after the official announcement, Sutta was too hurt to answer the phone. Despite expressing genuine admiration for Scherzinger’s recent Tony Award win for her role in “Sunset Boulevard,” Sutta believed the manner of her exclusion exposed something troubling about the group’s priorities. “The way they did this just showed me exactly why I’m not in the group,” she said, suggesting that the reunion’s execution reflected deeper issues in the group’s internal workings and decision-making process.

• Sutta, Bachar and Thornton not included in PCD Forever Tour
• Three members chosen: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No prior notice provided to excluded original members
• Sutta characterised reunion as a “cash grab” venture

Political Beliefs and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has grown more outspoken about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, posted regularly on social media and delivered speeches at events, openly positioning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she thinks this political stance could have played a role in her exclusion from the reunion tour. In her podcast appearance, Sutta indicated that her association with Kennedy—and by extension, the broader political movement he represents—made her problematic for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she stated, though she clarified her support was based on specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer portrayed the reunion as fundamentally a commercial venture, indicating that commercial considerations superseded any commitment to inclusivity or recognising all founding members. “It’s a cash grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta said bluntly. She expressed frustration that her political beliefs seemed to have been deemed incompatible with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Despite her disagreements with certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason for backing Kennedy stemmed from advocacy for those impacted by vaccine-related health issues—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Campaigning as Political Force

Sutta’s public advocacy is intrinsically linked to her own medical difficulties. In recent times, she has been forthcoming about experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she connects to a COVID-19 vaccine administered in 2021. She has also revealed that she is managing a neurological condition, struggles that have significantly affected her beliefs and advocacy aims. These health experiences motivated her to participate in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and health autonomy, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, championing Kennedy represented a viable means to elevate the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she felt had been overlooked by conventional media narratives. “We didn’t have a pathway for the vaccine-injured community to obtain assistance without him,” she declared, underlining that her political alignment was driven by individual need rather than partisan ideology. This health activism has become central to her public identity, yet it seems to have established professional separation between herself and ex-bandmates who may have wanted to avoid connection with such disputed health debates.

Taking Strong Stands on Divisive Matters

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, Sutta has demonstrated no inclination to backing down from her convictions. She remains unwavering in her backing of Kennedy and the initiatives he promoted during his 2024 presidential campaign, attending rallies, posting frequently on social media and commenting openly about vaccine safety concerns. Rather than distancing herself from these positions to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has continued to advocate vocally for what she believes in, even as it seems to have resulted in losing a lucrative reunion chance to work with one of her former group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s unwillingness to soften her position demonstrates a wider conflict in contemporary entertainment, where creative professionals’ personal views more frequently overlap with market appeal. She has recognised the likely industry backlash of her activism, yet appears determined to prioritise her principles over professional standing. Her candid acknowledgment that association with Kennedy’s views may be perceived as supporting “MAGA” politics shows her understanding of how her approach is understood, whilst yet continuing to refuse to make apologies regarding or substantially alter her public advocacy on health-related matters that she considers personally vital.

• Sutta participated in several Kennedy political gatherings during the 2024 presidential race
• She has maintained a prominent online platform promoting vaccine safety awareness
• The artist continues speaking publicly about her personal health struggles publicly
• Sutta recognises her positions could be seen as politically controversial
• She prioritises health advocacy ahead of possible career reconciliation prospects

A Working Life Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a significant professional setback, Sutta has preserved a dynamic career trajectory outside of the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has developed independent ventures, television appearances and continued performing engagements that have allowed her to sustain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a public personality and performer has extended well beyond the vocal group that originally launched her career, illustrating her skill in creating a distinct professional identity separate from the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears positioned to continue her activist initiatives and artistic endeavours irrespective of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak openly about her principles, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of band reunion, has also made her an vocal advocate on social and political matters within entertainment sectors. Whether through music, campaigning or public appearances, Sutta seems determined to maintain her autonomy and pursue opportunities aligned with her principles rather than sacrifice her values for the sake of career reconciliation.