Pussycat Dolls Singer Defends Political Stance After Tour Exclusion

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta has stood by her political views after being left out of 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 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 caught off guard 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 Excluded Attendees Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ announcement of their PCD Forever Tour in March came as a shock to several original members who were noticeably excluded from the lineup. Sutta disclosed that she, Bachar and Thornton neither got advance notice of the reunion, finding out instead via rumours and press coverage. She stated she attempted 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 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 recent Tony Award win for her role in “Sunset Boulevard,” Sutta believed the manner of her exclusion exposed 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 within the group’s internal workings and decision-making process.

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

Political Convictions and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has become increasingly vocal 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 may have directly contributed in her exclusion from the reunion tour. In her podcast appearance, Sutta suggested 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 specific policy positions rather than blanket endorsement of any political party.

The singer characterised the reunion as essentially a profit-driven initiative, suggesting that commercial considerations superseded any commitment to inclusivity or recognising 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 incompatible with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Notwithstanding her reservations about elements of contemporary politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason for supporting Kennedy arose from advocacy for those affected by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Driver

Sutta’s public advocacy is intrinsically linked to her personal health struggles. In recent times, she has been forthcoming about experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine taken in 2021. She has also made clear that she is dealing with a neurological condition, challenges that have profoundly shaped her beliefs and advocacy aims. These medical circumstances motivated her to participate in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, finally directing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which highlighted these priorities.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy represented a practical opportunity to magnify the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she felt had been sidelined by mainstream discourse. “We didn’t have a chance for the vaccine-injured community to get help without him,” she stated, underlining that her political position was driven by personal necessity rather than partisan ideology. This health advocacy has become central to her public identity, yet it seems to have fostered professional distance between herself and former bandmates who may have wanted to steer clear of connection with such controversial health debates.

Taking Strong Stands on Contentious Issues

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, Sutta has demonstrated no inclination to 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, regularly sharing content on social media and speaking publicly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than moving away from these stances to protect her professional future, Sutta has kept advocating openly 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 refusal to adjust her stance demonstrates a fundamental divide in today’s entertainment landscape, where artists’ personal beliefs increasingly intersect with market appeal. She has acknowledged the likely industry backlash of her activism, yet demonstrates resolve to champion her convictions over professional standing. Her candid acknowledgment that connection to Kennedy’s stance may be perceived as supporting “MAGA” politics reveals her recognition of how her approach is perceived, whilst simultaneously refusing to apologise for or substantially alter her public campaigning on health issues that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta participated in several Kennedy campaign events throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained an active social media presence promoting vaccine safety advocacy
• The singer continues discussing openly about her personal health struggles publicly
• Sutta recognises her views may be perceived as politically divisive
• She prioritises health-related advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Working Life Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion marks a notable career disappointment, Sutta has preserved a dynamic career trajectory separate from the Pussycat Dolls throughout the past two decades. The singer has undertaken solo work, television appearances and sustained live work that have allowed her to sustain her standing within entertainment. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has gone considerably further than the pop ensemble that first established her reputation, showcasing her ability to carve out a separate professional persona apart from the collective that made her name.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears set to continue her campaigning efforts and creative pursuits regardless of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak openly about her convictions, whilst certainly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an vocal advocate on health and social matters within the entertainment industry. Whether through songwriting, activism or public speaking, Sutta seems determined to maintain her self-determination and seek out opportunities aligned with her values rather than compromise her principles for the sake of professional reunion.