Dave Grohl: These music scandals caused a stir in 2024

While 2024 was a successful year for some musicians, other artists faced scandals. It wasn’t just the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs (55) that overshadowed album releases and chart successes. These controversies also preoccupied the public over the past twelve months.

In December, the Band Aid song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” made waves. A new version was released on November 25th for his 40th birthday. In the “Ultimate Mix” of the song, the singers from the versions released in 1984, 1989, 2004 and 2014 could be heard, including Ed Sheeran (33). The British musician accused Bob Geldof (73) and the other Band Aid organizers of not asking him for permission to use his vocals.

However, as he explained in his Instagram story, he would have “politely declined” such a request. In contrast to 2014, he now looks at the song differently. Sheeran shared a statement from rapper Fuse ODG, 36, in which he said charity projects like Band Aid “perpetuate harmful stereotypes.” He declined to participate in the song in 2014 because “it is a campaign that dehumanizes Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of ‘charity’.”

Geldof responded to the criticism: “This little pop song has kept millions of people alive.” There are 300 million hungry people in Africa that he wants to help, he added.

Dave Grohl (55) surprised the music world in September. The Foo Fighters frontman said in a short statement that he had become the father of a child out of wedlock. Grohl wanted to be a “loving and supportive parent” for his daughter, as he explained. “I love my wife and children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and earn their forgiveness,” the message reads. The singer, guitarist and drummer has been married to TV producer Jordyn Blum (48) since 2003. The two have three daughters: Violet (18), Harper (15) and Ophelia (10).

In the following months, Grohl was spotted in public several times without his wedding ring. Blum is also said to have taken off her ring. The source told the magazine that his wife “didn’t want to make any hasty decisions” because of their daughters, but was “still unhappy.” Grohl is said to have hired a divorce lawyer before his announcement. In November, he told the magazine, “He is no longer working with a divorce lawyer and is instead hoping to work things out with his wife.”

Grohl himself did not comment again after the statement and withdrew from the public. The band canceled a performance at the Southside Music Port Festival in Connecticut a few days beforehand.

Not everyone saw Linkin Park’s comeback with new singer Emily Armstrong (38) as a cause for joy. Critical voices accused her of having Scientology connections and pointed out her proximity to a convicted sex offender. Regarding the latter, Armstrong wrote on Instagram that she viewed him “as a friend” at the time and appeared with him at a court date. “Soon after, I realized I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve never spoken to him since then,” she clarified.

In addition to fans, relatives of the late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington (1976-2017) also criticized the return. “You erased my father’s life and legacy in real time – during International Suicide Prevention Month,” his son Jaime (28) addressed Mike Shinoda (47) in an Instagram story. Chester Bennington’s mother said she was “deeply disappointed” in the band. They didn’t inform her about the comeback in advance. “Probably because they knew I wouldn’t be too happy about it,” she elaborated. Like Jaime, she emphasized that the band wanted to erase the past.

Sean “Diddy” Combs had to say goodbye to his music career in 2024. The rapper and producer has been in custody since September 16th after police arrested him in New York. The indictment accuses the hip-hop mogul of sex trafficking and organized crime. According to media reports, he is said to have forced people “to engage in extensive sexual acts with male sex workers” during so-called “Freak Offs”. He also filmed some of this. His ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura (38) accused him in November 2023 of abusing her and participating in sex trafficking.

Combs pleaded not guilty multiple times and made four requests to be released on $50 million bail. However, judges repeatedly rejected these. The original lawsuit was followed by others involving, among other things, allegations of sexual assault and rape. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.