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 support for 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, coupled with her public health advocacy following her own health challenges, had effectively sidelined her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Abandoned Members Out

The Pussycat Dolls’ announcement of their PCD Forever Tour in March proved surprising 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 tried multiple 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 exclusion proved particularly painful for Sutta given her deep attachment to the group’s legacy. When Scherzinger called the following day after the official announcement, Sutta was too upset to answer the phone. While acknowledging 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 band’s values. “The way they did this simply 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 excluded from PCD Forever Tour
• Three members chosen: Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts only
• No advance notification provided to excluded original members
• Sutta characterised reunion as a “cash grab” project

Political Convictions and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has grown more outspoken about her backing of 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 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 a liability for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she acknowledged, though she explained her support was rooted in specific policy positions rather than blanket endorsement of any political party.

The singer characterised the reunion as essentially a commercial venture, suggesting that financial interests superseded any commitment to inclusion or acknowledging all original members. “It’s a money grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta said bluntly. She expressed frustration that her political views seemed to have been considered incompatible with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Despite her reservations about certain aspects of contemporary politics, Sutta maintained that her main reason for supporting Kennedy stemmed from support for those affected by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause profoundly personal to her own health journey.

Health Advocacy as Political Catalyst

Sutta’s public advocacy is intrinsically linked to her own medical difficulties. In the past few years, she has been candid regarding experiencing serious ongoing health issues that she links to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also revealed that she is managing a neurological condition, challenges that have profoundly shaped her beliefs and advocacy aims. These medical circumstances prompted her to engage in groups dedicated to vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, ultimately drawing her towards Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy represented a viable means to magnify the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she believed had been sidelined by conventional media narratives. “We didn’t have a chance for the vaccine-injured community to obtain assistance without him,” she stated, stressing that her political stance was driven by personal necessity rather than political allegiance. This advocacy work has become integral to her public profile, yet it appears to have established professional separation between herself and former bandmates who might have chosen to steer clear of connection with such disputed health debates.

Maintaining Firm Stances on Contentious Issues

Despite the professional fallout from her public position, Sutta has demonstrated no inclination to backing down from her convictions. She remains unwavering in her support for Kennedy and the causes he championed 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 protect her professional future, Sutta has kept advocating vocally for what she believes in, even as it seems to have cost her a lucrative reunion chance to work with one of her ex-group’s most important ventures.

Sutta’s refusal to moderate her views reflects a fundamental divide in modern entertainment industry, where performers’ individual convictions increasingly intersect with commercial viability. She has admitted the possible career repercussions of her advocacy work, yet appears determined to champion her convictions over commercial approval. Her candid acknowledgment that alignment with Kennedy’s positions may be perceived as supporting “MAGA” politics demonstrates her awareness of how her position is interpreted, whilst at the same time declining to apologise for or significantly change her public advocacy on health issues that she views as personally important.

• Sutta participated in multiple Kennedy campaign events throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She continues to maintain an active online platform promoting vaccine safety awareness
• The artist keeps speaking publicly about her own health struggles publicly
• Sutta recognises her views could be seen as politically controversial
• She places emphasis on health-related advocacy over possible career reconciliation prospects

A Working Life Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion marks a significant professional setback, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence outside of the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has undertaken solo work, media appearances and sustained live work that have allowed her to sustain her standing within entertainment. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has stretched far past the vocal group that initially brought her fame, showcasing her ability to carve out a separate professional persona independent of the group responsible for her fame.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her campaigning efforts and creative pursuits independent of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak frankly about her convictions, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an vocal advocate on health and social matters within the entertainment industry. Whether through musical work, advocacy or speaking engagements, Sutta seems determined to maintain her independence and pursue opportunities consistent with her values rather than compromise her values for the sake of professional reunion.