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 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 left out entirely. Speaking on “The Maverick Approach” podcast on 22 March, Sutta revealed she had been caught off guard by the reunion and alleged that her association with Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign, coupled with her health-related campaigning following her own health challenges, had essentially removed her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Excluded Members Behind

The Pussycat Dolls’ reveal of their PCD Forever Tour in March came as a shock to several original members who were clearly excluded from the lineup. Sutta disclosed that she, Bachar and Thornton neither got advance notice of the reunion, learning about it instead through rumours and media reports. She stated she attempted several 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 caught off guard.”/p

The exclusion was especially painful for Sutta due to her emotional connection to the band’s history. 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 exposed 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 demonstrated deeper issues within the band’s dynamics and decision-making process.

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

Political Views and Career Implications

Sutta has grown more outspoken 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 thinks this political stance could have played a role 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 a liability for the group. “I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA,” she stated, though she explained her support was rooted in specific policy positions rather than wholesale support of any political party.

The singer characterised 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 voiced concern that her political views appeared to have been deemed at odds with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Despite her reservations about certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta insisted that her main reason 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 Driver

Sutta’s public advocacy is intrinsically linked to her personal health struggles. In the past few years, she has been open about dealing with serious persistent health problems that she attributes to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also made clear that she is coping with a neurological disorder, challenges that have profoundly shaped her worldview and advocacy priorities. These health experiences led her to become involved in communities focused on vaccine safety and bodily autonomy, ultimately drawing her towards Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, supporting Kennedy represented a practical opportunity to elevate the voices of those in the community of vaccine-injured individuals who she felt had been overlooked by dominant public conversation. “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 circumstance rather than political allegiance. This advocacy work has become central 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 contentious health controversies.

Taking Strong Stands on Contentious Issues

Despite the professional fallout from her political stance, Sutta has shown no signs of backing down from her beliefs. She remains steadfast in her backing of Kennedy and the causes he championed during his 2024 campaign for president, showing up at events, posting frequently on social media and speaking publicly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than distancing herself from these positions to protect her professional future, Sutta has kept advocating openly for what she believes in, even as it seems to have cost her a highly profitable reunion opportunity with one of her ex-group’s most significant projects.

Sutta’s refusal to adjust her stance illustrates a wider conflict in contemporary entertainment, where creative professionals’ personal views commonly collide with business success. She has recognised the likely industry backlash of her advocacy work, yet demonstrates resolve to place her values first over commercial approval. Her frank admission that association with Kennedy’s views may be seen as endorsing “MAGA” politics demonstrates her awareness of how her stance is understood, whilst at the same time declining to make apologies regarding or substantially alter her public advocacy on health-related matters that she considers personally vital.

• Sutta participated in several Kennedy campaign events throughout 2024’s presidential election
• She has maintained a prominent online platform promoting vaccine safety advocacy
• The singer keeps discussing openly about her personal health challenges publicly
• Sutta acknowledges her positions may be perceived as politically divisive
• She prioritises health-related advocacy ahead of potential professional reconciliation opportunities

A Career Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a notable career disappointment, Sutta has preserved a dynamic career trajectory separate from the Pussycat Dolls over the last twenty years. The singer has undertaken solo work, television appearances and sustained live work that have allowed her to sustain her position in the entertainment sector. Her work as a entertainer and public presence has extended well beyond the pop ensemble that initially brought her fame, showcasing her ability to carve out a distinct professional identity independent of the collective that made her name.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears well-placed to continue her campaigning efforts and artistic projects independent of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her openness in speak openly about her beliefs, whilst undoubtedly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also established her as an outspoken voice on health and political matters within entertainment circles. Whether through songwriting, advocacy or speaking engagements, Sutta seems committed to maintain her autonomy and seek out opportunities aligned with her convictions rather than compromise her standards for the sake of career reconciliation.