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 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 health challenges, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Left Members Out

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March proved surprising to several 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 attempted several times to reach out to 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 proved particularly painful for Sutta given her deep attachment to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger called the following 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 revealed 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 within 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 advance warning communicated to excluded original members
• Sutta described reunion as a “cash grab” initiative

Political Views and Career Implications

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly during his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, posted regularly on social media and delivered speeches at events, publicly aligning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she thinks this political stance may have directly contributed in her exclusion from the reunion tour. In her podcast appearance, Sutta suggested 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 stated, though she explained her support was based on specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer described the reunion as fundamentally a profit-driven initiative, suggesting that commercial considerations overrode any dedication to inclusivity or acknowledging all original members. “It’s a cash grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta remarked candidly. She voiced concern that her political beliefs appeared to have been deemed at odds with the group’s brand image or commercial interests. Despite her disagreements with certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta maintained that her main reason for supporting Kennedy stemmed from advocacy for those impacted by vaccine-related health issues—a cause deeply personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Force

Sutta’s political engagement is deeply connected to her personal health struggles. In recent years, she has been open about experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she connects to a COVID-19 vaccine taken in 2021. She has also made clear that she is coping with a neurological disorder, struggles that have significantly affected her beliefs and advocacy aims. These medical circumstances prompted her to engage in organisations centred on vaccine safety and health autonomy, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy represented a tangible chance to magnify the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she felt had been sidelined by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a opportunity for the vaccine-injured community to obtain assistance without him,” she remarked, stressing that her political alignment was rooted in personal necessity rather than partisan ideology. This advocacy work has become integral to her public profile, yet it appears to have fostered a professional divide between herself and former bandmates who might have wanted to avoid connection with such contentious health discussions.

Taking Strong Stands on Divisive Matters

Despite the career consequences from her public position, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her convictions. She remains unwavering 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 vaccine safety concerns. 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 appears to have resulted in losing a lucrative reunion opportunity with one of her former group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s refusal to moderate her views illustrates a broader tension in contemporary entertainment, where performers’ individual convictions commonly collide with market appeal. She has recognised the likely industry backlash of her public campaigning, yet appears determined to champion her convictions over commercial approval. Her frank admission that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be seen as endorsing “MAGA” politics reveals her recognition of how her position is understood, whilst simultaneously refusing to express regret about or significantly change her public campaigning on health issues that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta attended multiple Kennedy campaign events during 2024’s presidential election
• She continues to maintain an active social media presence advocating for vaccine safety awareness
• The singer keeps discussing openly about her personal health struggles publicly
• Sutta recognises her positions may be perceived as politically divisive
• She prioritises health advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Professional Path Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion marks a notable career disappointment, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence outside of the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has undertaken solo work, television appearances and continued performing engagements that have allowed her to sustain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has stretched far past the pop ensemble that originally launched her career, illustrating her skill in creating a separate professional persona independent of the ensemble that established her reputation.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears set to continue her activist initiatives and artistic projects irrespective of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak candidly about her convictions, whilst certainly costly in terms of collective harmony, has also positioned her as an outspoken voice on health and political matters within entertainment circles. Whether through music, campaigning or public speaking, Sutta seems determined to maintain her autonomy and pursue opportunities consistent with her convictions rather than sacrifice her values for the sake of career reconciliation.