Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has stood by 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 disclosed she had been blindsided by the reunion and alleged that her alignment with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, coupled with her health-related campaigning following her own health challenges, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Get-together That Abandoned Participants Out

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 received advance notice of the reunion, learning about it instead via rumours and press coverage. She stated she tried several times to contact founder Robin Antin before the news broke publicly, 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 proved particularly painful for Sutta due to her emotional connection to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger rang the next day after the official announcement, Sutta was too upset 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 band’s values. “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 in the group’s internal workings and decision-making process.

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

Political Views and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. She went to campaign rallies, 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 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 characterised the reunion as fundamentally a commercial venture, indicating that commercial considerations superseded any dedication 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 voiced concern that her political views seemed to have been deemed incompatible with the group’s public image or commercial interests. Despite her disagreements with certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta maintained that her primary motivation for supporting Kennedy stemmed from advocacy for those affected by vaccine-related health issues—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Catalyst

Sutta’s public advocacy is intrinsically linked to her own medical difficulties. In the past few years, she has been candid regarding experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also disclosed that she is dealing with a neurological condition, difficulties that have deeply influenced her perspective and campaigning focus. These medical circumstances prompted her to engage in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, ultimately drawing her towards Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, championing Kennedy represented a viable means to magnify the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she believed had been disregarded by conventional media narratives. “We didn’t have a chance for the vaccine-injured community to get help without him,” she remarked, emphasising that her political stance was rooted in personal necessity rather than party politics. This advocacy work has become fundamental to her public identity, yet it seems to have created professional distance between herself and former bandmates who may have chosen to steer clear of association with such contentious health controversies.

Taking Strong Stands on Controversial Topics

Despite the professional fallout from her public position, Sutta has demonstrated no inclination to backing down from her beliefs. She remains unwavering in her backing of Kennedy and the causes he championed during his 2024 campaign for president, attending rallies, regularly sharing content on social media and commenting openly about vaccine safety concerns. Rather than distancing herself from these positions to protect her professional future, Sutta has continued to advocate openly for what she stands for, even as it appears to have cost her a highly profitable reunion chance to work with one of her former group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s unwillingness to soften her position demonstrates a fundamental divide in modern entertainment industry, where creative professionals’ personal views commonly collide with market appeal. She has recognised the potential professional consequences of her advocacy work, yet appears determined to prioritise her principles over commercial approval. Her candid acknowledgment that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be interpreted as backing “MAGA” politics demonstrates her awareness of how her approach is interpreted, whilst simultaneously refusing to express regret about or significantly change her public advocacy on health issues that she views as personally important.

• Sutta participated in multiple Kennedy campaign events throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained an active social media presence advocating for vaccine safety advocacy
• The artist keeps discussing openly about her personal health challenges openly
• Sutta recognises her views may be perceived as politically divisive
• She prioritises health advocacy ahead of possible career reconciliation prospects

A Professional Path Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a notable career disappointment, Sutta has maintained an active career separate from the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has developed independent ventures, media appearances and continued performing engagements that have helped her preserve her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has extended well beyond the pop ensemble that originally launched her career, demonstrating her capacity to establish a unique career trajectory separate from the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her advocacy work and artistic projects regardless of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak frankly about her principles, whilst certainly costly in terms of collective harmony, has also positioned her as an vocal advocate on health and social matters within the entertainment industry. Whether through musical work, campaigning or public speaking, Sutta seems committed to maintain her self-determination and seek out opportunities in keeping with her values rather than abandon her values for the sake of commercial reunion.