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 much-awaited 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 public health advocacy following her own medical struggles, had effectively sidelined her from the comeback.

The Gathering That Left Participants 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 stated she tried 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 given her deep attachment to the band’s history. When Scherzinger called the following day after the official announcement, Sutta was too hurt to answer the phone. Despite expressing 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 group’s priorities. “The way they did this just 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 not included in 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” project

Political Views and Workplace Repercussions

Sutta has become increasingly vocal about her backing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially throughout 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 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 characterised the reunion as essentially a commercial venture, suggesting that financial interests overrode any dedication to inclusion or recognising all founding members. “It’s a money grab. I mean, come on. Let’s keep it real, right?” Sutta remarked candidly. She expressed frustration that her political beliefs appeared to have been considered incompatible with the group’s brand image or financial interests. Despite her disagreements with certain aspects of modern politics, Sutta insisted that her primary motivation for backing Kennedy arose from advocacy for those impacted by vaccine-related health concerns—a cause deeply personal to her own health journey.

Healthcare Advocacy as Political Catalyst

Sutta’s political engagement is fundamentally tied to her individual health challenges. In the past few years, she has been forthcoming about managing significant long-term health concerns that she attributes to a COVID-19 vaccine received in 2021. She has also made clear that she is coping with a neurological disorder, struggles that have significantly affected her perspective and campaigning focus. These health experiences prompted her to engage in communities focused on vaccine safety and health autonomy, eventually bringing her to Kennedy’s campaign, which emphasised these issues.

For Sutta, backing Kennedy offered a practical opportunity to elevate the voices of those in the vaccine-injured community who she considered had been sidelined by dominant public conversation. “We didn’t have a chance for the vaccine-injured community to receive support without him,” she declared, emphasising that her political alignment was rooted in personal necessity rather than party politics. This health activism has become fundamental to her public identity, yet it seems to have created a professional divide between herself and former bandmates who might have wanted to steer clear of connection with such controversial health debates.

Maintaining Firm Stances on Controversial Topics

Despite the career consequences from her political stance, Sutta has demonstrated no inclination to backing down from her convictions. She remains steadfast in her backing of Kennedy and the initiatives he promoted during his 2024 campaign for president, attending rallies, posting frequently on social media and speaking publicly about concerns regarding vaccine safety. Rather than moving away from these positions to salvage her career prospects, Sutta has continued to advocate openly for what she stands for, even as it appears to have cost her a lucrative reunion opportunity with one of her former group’s most important ventures.

Sutta’s refusal to soften her position demonstrates a fundamental divide in today’s entertainment landscape, where creative professionals’ personal views increasingly intersect with commercial viability. She has admitted the possible career repercussions of her advocacy work, yet appears determined to prioritise her principles over industry acceptance. Her frank admission that association with Kennedy’s views may be perceived as supporting “MAGA” politics shows her understanding of how her position is perceived, whilst yet continuing to refuse to express regret about or significantly change her open promotion on health-related matters that she deems personally essential.

• Sutta participated in multiple Kennedy political gatherings throughout the 2024 presidential race
• She continues to maintain an active online platform promoting vaccine safety advocacy
• The singer continues discussing openly about her own health struggles openly
• Sutta acknowledges her views may be perceived as politically controversial
• She prioritises health advocacy ahead of possible career reconciliation prospects

A Professional Path Beyond the Group

Whilst the reunion tour exclusion constitutes a significant professional setback, Sutta has sustained an ongoing professional presence outside of the Pussycat Dolls across the previous two decades. The singer has developed independent ventures, television appearances and continued performing engagements that have helped her preserve her standing within entertainment. Her work as a performer and public figure has gone considerably further than the vocal group that originally launched her career, showcasing her skill in creating a distinct professional identity apart from the collective that made her name.

Looking ahead, Sutta appears positioned to continue her advocacy work and artistic projects irrespective of the reunion tour’s outcome. Her willingness to speak candidly about her convictions, whilst certainly costly in terms of group reconciliation, has also made her an outspoken voice on social and political matters within entertainment sectors. Whether through music, activism or public speaking, Sutta seems committed to maintain her independence and seek out opportunities aligned with her convictions rather than abandon her values for the sake of commercial reunion.