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 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 association with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, combined with her health-related campaigning following her own health challenges, had effectively sidelined her from the comeback.

The Get-together That Excluded Attendees Out

The Pussycat Dolls’ announcement 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, finding out instead through rumours and media reports. She claimed she attempted multiple times to reach out to 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 given her emotional connection to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger rang the next 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 felt 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 reunion’s execution reflected deeper issues in the group’s internal workings and decision-making process.

• Sutta, Bachar and Thornton not included in PCD Forever Tour
• Three members chosen: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No prior notice given to excluded original members
• Sutta described reunion as a “cash grab” initiative

Political Convictions and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has grown more outspoken about her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout his 2024 presidential campaign. She attended campaign events, frequently shared content on social media and delivered speeches at events, publicly aligning herself with Kennedy’s platform. However, she believes this political stance could have played a role 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 problematic for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she stated, though she clarified her support was based on particular policies rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer characterised the reunion as essentially a profit-driven initiative, indicating that commercial considerations overrode any commitment to inclusivity or recognising all founding members. “It’s a cash grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta remarked candidly. She expressed frustration that her political views seemed to have been considered incompatible with the group’s public image or financial interests. Despite her reservations about certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta insisted that her primary motivation for supporting Kennedy stemmed from advocacy for those impacted by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Force

Sutta’s political involvement is deeply connected to her own medical difficulties. In the past few years, she has been forthcoming 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, struggles that have significantly affected her worldview and advocacy priorities. These medical experiences prompted her to engage in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and health autonomy, finally directing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy offered a viable means to amplify the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she believed had been overlooked by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a pathway for the vaccine-injured community to obtain assistance without him,” she stated, emphasising that her political alignment was rooted in individual need rather than party politics. This health advocacy has become central to her public identity, yet it appears to have created a professional divide between herself and ex-bandmates who may have wanted to steer clear of connection with such contentious health controversies.

Taking Strong Stands on Controversial Topics

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her beliefs. She remains unwavering in her support for Kennedy and the initiatives he promoted during his 2024 campaign for president, showing up at events, posting frequently on social media and speaking publicly about vaccine safety concerns. Rather than moving away from these stances to protect her professional future, Sutta has continued to advocate vocally for what she stands for, even as it appears to have cost her a lucrative reunion chance to work with one of her ex-group’s most important ventures.

Sutta’s unwillingness to adjust her stance illustrates a wider conflict in contemporary entertainment, where performers’ individual convictions increasingly intersect with commercial viability. She has admitted the potential professional consequences of her advocacy work, yet appears determined to place her values first over professional standing. Her open recognition that association with Kennedy’s views may be seen as endorsing “MAGA” politics shows her understanding of how her position is understood, whilst simultaneously refusing to make apologies regarding or markedly modify her open promotion on health-related matters that she considers personally vital.

• Sutta attended several Kennedy political gatherings throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She continues to maintain a prominent social media presence advocating for vaccine safety awareness
• The artist keeps speaking publicly about her own health struggles publicly
• Sutta acknowledges her positions could be seen as politically controversial
• She prioritises health-related advocacy over potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Career Outside the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion represents a significant professional setback, Sutta has maintained an active career independent of the Pussycat Dolls throughout the past two decades. The singer has undertaken solo work, media appearances and ongoing performance commitments that have enabled her to maintain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has extended well beyond the girl group that originally launched her career, demonstrating her ability to carve out a unique career trajectory separate from the collective that made her name.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her advocacy work and creative pursuits regardless of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her willingness to speak candidly about her principles, whilst certainly costly in terms of band reunion, has also positioned her as an prominent figure on social and political matters within entertainment sectors. Whether through songwriting, advocacy or public appearances, Sutta seems resolved to maintain her autonomy and pursue opportunities aligned with her convictions rather than abandon her values for the sake of professional reunion.