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 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 health-related campaigning following her own medical struggles, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Reunion That Abandoned Members Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March came as a shock to several original members who were clearly excluded from the lineup. Sutta revealed that she, Bachar and Thornton neither received advance notice of the reunion, learning about it instead via rumours and press coverage. She claimed she tried multiple times to contact 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 was especially painful for Sutta given her deep attachment to the band’s history. 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 felt 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 manner of the reunion reflected deeper issues in the band’s dynamics and decision-making process.

• Sutta, Bachar and Thornton excluded from PCD Forever Tour
• Three members chosen: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No advance notification given to excluded original members
• Sutta characterised reunion as a “cash grab” venture

Political Convictions and Professional Consequences

Sutta has grown more outspoken about her backing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly during his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, posted regularly on social media and spoke at rallies, openly positioning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she thinks this political stance may have directly contributed in her removal 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 problematic for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she acknowledged, though she explained her support was rooted in specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer characterised the reunion as essentially a commercial venture, suggesting that commercial considerations superseded any dedication to inclusivity or recognising all founding members. “It’s a money grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta remarked candidly. She expressed frustration that her political views appeared to have been considered at odds with the group’s brand image or commercial interests. Notwithstanding her reservations about certain aspects of contemporary politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason for supporting Kennedy arose from support for those affected by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause profoundly personal to her own medical journey.

Health Campaigning as Political Force

Sutta’s public advocacy is deeply connected to her own medical difficulties. In recent times, she has been forthcoming about managing significant long-term health concerns that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine taken in 2021. She has also made clear that she is managing a neurological condition, struggles that have significantly affected her worldview and advocacy priorities. These health experiences led her to become involved in communities focused on vaccine safety and personal health freedom, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, championing Kennedy offered a practical opportunity to elevate the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she believed had been overlooked by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a opportunity for the vaccine-injured community to receive support without him,” she stated, underlining that her political position was driven by personal circumstance rather than partisan ideology. This advocacy work has become integral to her public identity, yet it seems to have established professional separation between herself and former bandmates who may have wanted to steer clear of connection with such disputed health discussions.

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 unwavering in her backing of Kennedy and the causes he championed during his 2024 campaign for president, attending rallies, posting frequently on social media and commenting openly about vaccine safety concerns. Rather than distancing herself from these stances to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has kept advocating vocally for what she believes in, even as it seems to have cost her a highly profitable reunion opportunity with one of her former group’s most important ventures.

Sutta’s resistance to adjust her stance demonstrates a wider conflict in today’s entertainment landscape, where artists’ personal beliefs commonly collide with business success. She has acknowledged the possible career repercussions 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 demonstrates her awareness of how her position is understood, whilst at the same time declining to apologise for or significantly change her public campaigning on health issues that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta participated in several Kennedy campaign events during 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained a prominent online platform promoting vaccine safety awareness
• The singer continues speaking publicly about her personal health struggles publicly
• Sutta acknowledges her positions could be seen as politically divisive
• She places emphasis on health advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Professional Path Outside the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a significant professional setback, Sutta has maintained an active career outside of the Pussycat Dolls throughout the past two decades. The singer has developed independent ventures, television appearances and sustained live work that have helped her preserve her standing within entertainment. Her work as a performer and public figure has stretched far past the vocal group that originally launched her career, illustrating her ability to carve out a distinct professional identity independent of the collective that made her name.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her campaigning efforts and creative pursuits irrespective of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak candidly about her convictions, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an prominent figure on health and political matters within entertainment circles. Whether through musical work, advocacy or public speaking, Sutta seems resolved to maintain her self-determination and seek out opportunities consistent with her convictions rather than compromise her principles for the sake of professional reunion.