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 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 excluded entirely. Speaking on “The Maverick Approach” podcast on 22 March, Sutta revealed she had been blindsided by the reunion and alleged that her association with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, combined with her health-related campaigning following her own medical struggles, had effectively sidelined her from the comeback.

The Reunion That Left Participants 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 revealed that neither she, Bachar nor Thornton got 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 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 removal from consideration was especially painful for Sutta due to her deep attachment to the band’s history. 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 recent Tony Award win for her role in “Sunset Boulevard,” Sutta believed the manner of her exclusion revealed 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 reunion’s execution demonstrated deeper issues in the band’s dynamics and decision-making process.

• Sutta, Bachar and Thornton removed from PCD Forever Tour
• Three members picked: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No prior notice provided to excluded original members
• Sutta described reunion as a “cash grab” project

Political Beliefs and Professional Consequences

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, publicly aligning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she believes 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 clarified her support was based on particular policies rather than blanket endorsement of any political party.

The singer described the reunion as essentially a commercial venture, indicating that financial interests superseded any commitment to inclusivity 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 views appeared to have been deemed at odds with the group’s public image or commercial interests. Despite her reservations about 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 medical journey.

Healthcare Advocacy as Political Force

Sutta’s political involvement is fundamentally tied to her own medical difficulties. In the past few years, she has been candid regarding experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she connects to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also made clear that she is managing a neurological condition, difficulties that have deeply influenced her worldview and advocacy priorities. These medical experiences led her to become involved in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and personal health freedom, ultimately drawing her towards Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy represented a practical opportunity to amplify the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she believed had been overlooked by conventional media narratives. “We didn’t have a pathway for the vaccine-injured community to get help without him,” she declared, stressing that her political position was rooted in personal necessity rather than political allegiance. This health activism has become fundamental to her public identity, yet it seems to have created professional distance between herself and former bandmates who might have preferred to steer clear of connection with such controversial health debates.

Taking Strong Stands on Divisive Matters

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her beliefs. She remains unwavering in her backing of Kennedy and the initiatives he promoted during his 2024 campaign for president, showing up at events, regularly sharing content on social media and commenting openly about vaccine safety concerns. Rather than moving away from these stances to protect her professional future, Sutta has kept advocating vocally for what she believes in, even as it seems to have resulted in losing a highly profitable reunion opportunity with one of her former group’s most important ventures.

Sutta’s resistance to moderate her views illustrates a fundamental divide in contemporary entertainment, where artists’ personal beliefs more frequently overlap with business success. She has acknowledged the possible career repercussions of her public campaigning, yet seems committed to place her values first over professional standing. Her frank admission that alignment with Kennedy’s positions may be seen as endorsing “MAGA” politics reveals her recognition of how her stance is perceived, whilst yet continuing to refuse to express regret about or markedly modify her public advocacy on health issues that she considers personally vital.

• Sutta participated in multiple Kennedy campaign events during 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained an active social media presence promoting vaccine safety advocacy
• The singer keeps discussing openly about her personal health struggles openly
• Sutta acknowledges her views may be perceived as politically controversial
• She places emphasis on health advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Career Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion marks a considerable professional challenge, Sutta has preserved a dynamic career trajectory outside of the Pussycat Dolls across the previous two decades. The singer has pursued solo projects, broadcast engagements and continued performing engagements that have allowed her to sustain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a performer and public figure has stretched far past the pop ensemble that initially brought her fame, showcasing her capacity to establish a distinct professional identity apart from 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 willingness to speak frankly about her convictions, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also established her as an vocal advocate on social and political matters within the entertainment industry. Whether through songwriting, activism or public speaking, Sutta seems determined to maintain her independence and pursue opportunities aligned with her values rather than abandon her standards for the sake of commercial reunion.