Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has defended her political views after being left out of the girl group’s much-awaited reunion tour, claiming her backing of 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 caught off guard by the reunion and alleged that her alignment with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, coupled with her public health advocacy following her own medical struggles, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Left Members Out

The Pussycat Dolls’ announcement of their PCD Forever Tour in March proved surprising to several original members who were clearly excluded from the lineup. Sutta revealed that neither she, Bachar nor Thornton got advance notice of the reunion, finding out instead through rumours and media reports. She claimed she tried several times to contact founder Robin Antin before the news went public, only succeeding in 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 removal from consideration was especially painful for Sutta due to her emotional connection to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger rang the next day following the official announcement, Sutta was too hurt to answer the phone. While acknowledging 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 simply showed me exactly why I’m not in the group,” she said, suggesting that the manner of the reunion reflected deeper issues within the band’s dynamics and decision-making process.

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

Political Convictions and Professional Consequences

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly during his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, frequently shared content on social media and spoke at rallies, publicly aligning 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 connection to Kennedy—and by extension, the broader political movement he represents—made her a liability for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she acknowledged, though she explained her support was based on specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer portrayed the reunion as fundamentally a profit-driven initiative, suggesting that commercial considerations overrode any commitment to inclusion or acknowledging all founding members. “It’s a money grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta remarked candidly. She voiced concern that her political beliefs seemed to have been considered incompatible with the group’s brand image or commercial interests. Despite her reservations about elements of contemporary politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason for backing Kennedy stemmed from support for those affected by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause deeply personal to her own medical journey.

Health Campaigning as Political Force

Sutta’s political involvement is deeply connected to her own medical difficulties. In the past few years, she has been forthcoming about experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she attributes to a COVID-19 vaccine administered in 2021. She has also revealed that she is coping with a neurological disorder, challenges that have profoundly shaped her perspective and campaigning focus. These health experiences led her to become involved in communities focused on vaccine safety and personal health freedom, ultimately drawing her towards Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, supporting Kennedy constituted a viable means to magnify the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she considered had been disregarded by conventional media narratives. “We didn’t have a pathway for the vaccine-injured community to receive support without him,” she remarked, stressing that her political stance was driven by individual need rather than political allegiance. This advocacy work has become integral to her public identity, yet it appears to have fostered professional distance between herself and ex-bandmates who may have chosen to steer clear of connection with such controversial health controversies.

Maintaining Firm Stances on Contentious Issues

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, 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, regularly sharing content on social media and speaking publicly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than moving away from these stances to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has continued to advocate openly for what she believes in, even as it seems to have resulted in losing a lucrative reunion opportunity with one of her ex-group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s refusal to adjust her stance demonstrates a fundamental divide in modern entertainment industry, where artists’ personal beliefs commonly collide with business success. She has recognised the possible career repercussions of her public campaigning, yet appears determined to champion her convictions over professional standing. Her candid acknowledgment that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be interpreted as backing “MAGA” politics reveals her recognition of how her approach is interpreted, whilst yet continuing to refuse to apologise for or markedly modify her public campaigning on matters concerning health that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta attended multiple Kennedy political gatherings throughout the 2024 presidential race
• She continues to maintain a prominent social media presence advocating for vaccine safety advocacy
• The artist keeps speaking publicly about her own health struggles openly
• Sutta recognises her positions could be seen as politically controversial
• She places emphasis on health advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Career Outside the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a significant professional setback, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence separate from the Pussycat Dolls across the previous two decades. The singer has developed independent ventures, media appearances and sustained live work that have helped her preserve her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a public personality and performer has gone considerably further than the girl group that first established her reputation, demonstrating her skill in creating a unique career trajectory separate from the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears positioned to continue her activist initiatives and artistic projects independent of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak candidly about her convictions, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also positioned her as an prominent figure on social and political matters within entertainment circles. Whether through musical work, activism or public appearances, Sutta seems resolved to maintain her independence and seek out opportunities aligned with her values rather than abandon her values for the sake of career reconciliation.