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 highly anticipated 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 excluded entirely. Speaking on “The Maverick Approach” podcast on 22 March, Sutta disclosed she had been blindsided by the reunion and alleged that her association 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 Abandoned Participants Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March came as a shock to a number of original members who were clearly excluded from the lineup. Sutta revealed that neither she, Bachar nor Thornton got advance notice of the reunion, learning about it instead through rumours and media reports. She stated she attempted several times to reach out to founder Robin Antin before the news went public, 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 due to her deep attachment to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger called the following 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 demonstrated deeper issues within the group’s internal workings and decision-making process.

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

Political Views and Career Implications

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her backing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. She went to campaign rallies, frequently shared content on social media and delivered speeches at events, 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 suggested 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 stated, though she explained her support was based on particular policies rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer portrayed the reunion as essentially a profit-driven initiative, indicating that commercial considerations superseded any commitment 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 commercial interests. Despite her disagreements with elements of modern politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason for backing Kennedy arose from advocacy for those impacted 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 personal health struggles. In recent years, she has been open about dealing with serious persistent health problems that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also made clear that she is dealing with a neurological condition, difficulties that have deeply influenced her perspective and campaigning focus. These medical experiences prompted her to engage in organisations centred on vaccine safety and personal health freedom, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy constituted a viable means to elevate the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she felt 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, emphasising that her political stance was rooted in personal necessity rather than partisan ideology. This health activism has become central to her public identity, yet it seems to have fostered a professional divide between herself and ex-bandmates who might have chosen to avoid connection with such disputed health controversies.

Taking Strong Stands on Divisive Matters

Despite the professional fallout from her political stance, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her convictions. She remains unwavering in her support for Kennedy and the causes he championed during his 2024 presidential campaign, attending rallies, posting frequently on social media and commenting openly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than distancing herself from these positions to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has kept advocating openly for what she believes in, even as it appears to have resulted in losing a highly profitable reunion chance to work with one of her ex-group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s resistance to adjust her stance illustrates a fundamental divide in modern entertainment industry, where creative professionals’ personal views more frequently overlap with market appeal. She has recognised the likely industry backlash of her activism, yet demonstrates resolve to place her values first over commercial approval. Her frank admission that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be interpreted as backing “MAGA” politics shows her understanding of how her position is interpreted, whilst yet continuing to refuse to make apologies regarding or significantly change her public campaigning on health-related matters that she considers personally vital.

• Sutta attended multiple Kennedy political gatherings throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She continues to maintain a prominent online platform advocating for vaccine safety awareness
• The singer continues speaking publicly about her personal health challenges publicly
• Sutta recognises her positions may be perceived as politically controversial
• She prioritises health-related advocacy over potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Working Life Outside the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a considerable professional challenge, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence outside of the Pussycat Dolls throughout the past two decades. The singer has pursued solo projects, media appearances and sustained live work 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 vocal group that originally launched her career, showcasing her ability to carve out a separate professional persona separate from the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her advocacy work and artistic endeavours regardless of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her willingness to speak frankly about her principles, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also positioned her as an vocal advocate on health and political matters within the entertainment industry. Whether through songwriting, advocacy or public speaking, Sutta seems committed to maintain her autonomy and pursue opportunities in keeping with her values rather than compromise her principles for the sake of career reconciliation.