Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has defended her political views after being excluded from the girl group’s highly anticipated reunion tour, claiming her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made her a “liability” to the project. The 43-year-old singer was notably absent 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 revealed she had been blindsided by the reunion and alleged that her alignment with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, combined with her health-related campaigning following her own health challenges, had effectively sidelined her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Excluded Attendees Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ announcement of their PCD Forever Tour in March proved surprising to a number of original members who were clearly excluded from the lineup. Sutta disclosed that she, Bachar and Thornton neither got advance notice of the reunion, finding out instead via rumours and press coverage. She stated she attempted multiple 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 blindsided.”/p

The exclusion proved particularly painful for Sutta due to her deep attachment to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger rang the next day following the official announcement, Sutta was too upset to answer the phone. Despite expressing genuine admiration for Scherzinger’s latest Tony Award win for her role in “Sunset Boulevard,” Sutta believed the manner of her exclusion exposed something troubling about the band’s values. “The way they did this simply 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 picked: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No prior notice communicated to excluded original members
• Sutta described reunion as a “cash grab” initiative

Political Views and Professional Consequences

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, posted regularly on social media and spoke at rallies, publicly aligning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she believes this political stance may have directly contributed in her removal 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 acknowledged, though she clarified her support was rooted in specific policy positions rather than blanket endorsement of any political party.

The singer characterised the reunion as fundamentally a commercial venture, suggesting that financial interests superseded any dedication to inclusivity or recognising all original members. “It’s a money grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta said bluntly. She expressed frustration that her political views seemed to have been deemed at odds with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Notwithstanding her disagreements with elements of contemporary politics, Sutta maintained that her primary motivation for supporting Kennedy arose from support for those impacted by vaccine-related health issues—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Catalyst

Sutta’s political involvement is fundamentally tied to her own medical difficulties. In recent years, she has been open about managing significant long-term health concerns that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine administered in 2021. She has also disclosed that she is coping with a neurological disorder, challenges that have profoundly shaped her beliefs and advocacy aims. These medical circumstances prompted her to engage in communities focused on vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which prioritised these concerns.

For Sutta, supporting Kennedy represented a viable means to amplify the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she believed had been disregarded by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a pathway for the vaccine-injured community to receive support without him,” she remarked, emphasising that her political position was rooted in personal necessity rather than partisan ideology. This health activism has become fundamental to her public identity, yet it seems to have created professional separation between herself and ex-bandmates who may have chosen to avoid association with such contentious health controversies.

Taking Strong Stands on Controversial Topics

Despite the professional fallout from her public position, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her convictions. She remains steadfast in her support for Kennedy and the initiatives he promoted during his 2024 campaign for president, showing up at events, posting frequently on social media and speaking publicly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than moving away from these positions to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has kept advocating openly for what she believes in, even as it seems to have cost her a highly profitable reunion opportunity with one of her ex-group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s unwillingness to soften her position demonstrates a broader tension in today’s entertainment landscape, where artists’ personal beliefs commonly collide with market appeal. She has recognised the potential professional consequences of her public campaigning, yet appears determined to prioritise her principles over industry acceptance. Her candid acknowledgment that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be interpreted as backing “MAGA” politics reveals her recognition of how her position is understood, whilst simultaneously refusing to apologise for or markedly modify her public campaigning on health-related matters that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta attended multiple Kennedy political gatherings during the 2024 presidential race
• She continues to maintain an active social media presence promoting vaccine safety awareness
• The artist continues discussing openly about her personal health struggles publicly
• Sutta acknowledges her views may be perceived as politically controversial
• She prioritises health-related advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Professional Path Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a considerable professional challenge, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence outside of the Pussycat Dolls across the previous two decades. The singer has pursued solo projects, broadcast engagements and ongoing performance commitments that have allowed her to sustain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has gone considerably further than the pop ensemble that first established her reputation, demonstrating her ability to carve out a unique career trajectory separate from the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears positioned to continue her campaigning efforts and creative pursuits independent of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak openly about her beliefs, whilst certainly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an vocal advocate on social and political matters within entertainment sectors. Whether through musical work, campaigning or public speaking, Sutta seems committed to maintain her independence and pursue opportunities consistent with her convictions rather than abandon her values for the sake of career reconciliation.