Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has defended her political views after being excluded from 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 caught off guard by the reunion and alleged that her alignment with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, combined with her public health advocacy following her own medical struggles, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Get-together That Excluded Participants Out

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March proved surprising to a number of original members who were noticeably 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 stated she tried multiple 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 rang the next 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 felt the manner of her exclusion revealed something troubling about the band’s values. “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 in 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 prior notice communicated to excluded original members
• Sutta characterised reunion as a “cash grab” initiative

Political Convictions and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly during his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, frequently shared content on social media and spoke at rallies, publicly aligning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she believes this political stance may have directly contributed in her exclusion from the reunion tour. In her podcast appearance, Sutta indicated that her association with 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 stated, though she clarified her support was rooted in specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer described the reunion as fundamentally a profit-driven initiative, indicating that commercial considerations overrode any commitment to inclusivity or acknowledging all founding members. “It’s a cash grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta said bluntly. She expressed frustration that her political beliefs appeared to have been deemed at odds with the group’s public image or commercial interests. Despite her disagreements with certain aspects of contemporary politics, Sutta maintained that her main reason for backing 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 political involvement is intrinsically linked to her personal health struggles. In the past few years, she has been forthcoming about dealing with serious persistent health problems that she connects to a COVID-19 vaccine administered in 2021. She has also revealed that she is coping with a neurological disorder, struggles that have significantly affected her worldview and advocacy priorities. These medical experiences motivated her to participate in communities focused on vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, championing Kennedy constituted a practical opportunity to magnify the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she believed had been sidelined by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a chance 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 advocacy has become central to her public identity, yet it appears to have established professional separation between herself and ex-bandmates who might have preferred to steer clear of association with such contentious health discussions.

Holding Steadfast Positions 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 support for Kennedy and the causes he championed during his 2024 presidential campaign, showing up at events, regularly sharing content 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 continued to advocate openly for what she stands for, even as it seems to have resulted in losing a lucrative reunion chance to work with one of her ex-group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s unwillingness to soften her position illustrates a fundamental divide in today’s entertainment landscape, where artists’ personal beliefs more frequently overlap with market appeal. She has acknowledged the likely industry backlash of her advocacy work, yet seems committed to champion her convictions over industry acceptance. Her open recognition that association with Kennedy’s views may be interpreted as backing “MAGA” politics demonstrates her awareness of how her position is interpreted, whilst simultaneously refusing to express regret about or substantially alter her public campaigning on health-related matters that she views as personally important.

• Sutta participated in multiple Kennedy campaign events throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained a prominent social media presence advocating for vaccine safety awareness
• The singer keeps speaking publicly about her own health challenges publicly
• Sutta recognises her views could be seen as politically divisive
• She places emphasis on health-related advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Working Life Outside the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion marks a significant professional setback, Sutta has preserved a dynamic career trajectory outside of the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has developed independent ventures, media appearances and ongoing performance commitments that have allowed her to sustain her standing within entertainment. Her work as a performer and public figure has extended well beyond the pop ensemble that first established her reputation, showcasing her ability to carve out a unique career trajectory independent of the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears set to continue her advocacy work and artistic endeavours regardless of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her readiness to speak openly about her principles, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an vocal advocate on social and political matters within entertainment circles. Whether through songwriting, campaigning or public speaking, Sutta seems determined to maintain her autonomy and explore possibilities in keeping with her convictions rather than abandon her principles for the sake of career reconciliation.