Ex-Pussycat Doll Thinks She Was Not Asked to Return for 2026 Tour Because She’s MAGA and ‘Aligns with Bobby Kennedy’: ‘I Don’t Plan to Call’ Nicole Scherzinger Back

Former Pussycat Dolls member Jessica Sutta claims her political alignment with the MAGA movement was the primary reason she was excluded from the group's upcoming "PCD Forever" reunion tour, set for 2026. The tour will feature only three of the six original members: Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, and Ashley Roberts. Sutta revealed on "The Maverick Approach" podcast that she and others were blindsided by the announcement, learning of the plans at the same time as the public and receiving no prior communication from the group's management.

Sutta, an outspoken supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—the independent presidential candidate she endorsed in 2024—believes her views made her "a liability." Her alignment with Kennedy, whose platform of medical skepticism resonates within certain conservative circles, is personal; Sutta has publicly stated the COVID-19 vaccine made her feel "on the brink of death." "I align with Bobby Kennedy, which is aligning with MAGA," she explained, while distancing herself from some of Donald Trump's personal conduct. She has met significant backlash with defiance, stating, "People are screaming at me, ‘You’re MAGA, you’re MAGA.’ Yeah, I am. I triple down on it." This situation highlights an increasing trend in entertainment where off-stage personas can dictate professional opportunities. As branding expert Marcus Thorne notes, "Management teams now conduct rigorous 'controversy audits' on talent, often making preemptive cuts to protect a tour's marketability and sponsor relationships."

The other omitted founding member, Carmit Bachar, has also voiced her frustration. Bachar, who was instrumental in the group's early formation and securing its first record deal, posted on Instagram that she was not consulted and discovered the tour through news outlets. The Pussycat Dolls began not as a pop group but as a Los Angeles burlesque revue founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995, evolving later into a multi-platinum recording act.

The rationale for the streamlined lineup surfaced during a hesitant interview on the "Today" show. When questioned about the absent members, Scherzinger struggled to respond before Wyatt intervened. Wyatt framed the decision as a necessary step in the group's evolution, stressing the need to "protect our peace" and heal from past "ruptures." This language implies that curating a harmonious, drama-free unit was a higher priority than historical membership, suggesting significant unresolved internal tensions.

The extensive 53-date global tour launches June 5 in California, hitting major U.S. markets before a European leg in September. It concludes on October 13 at London's O2 Arena—a world-renowned venue that has hosted landmark residencies for artists like Beyoncé. The tour will be bolstered by special guest appearances from Lil' Kim and Mya on select dates, alongside the release of a new single, "Club Song." This combined approach of a large-scale tour and fresh material is a classic industry strategy to re-engage a legacy act's fanbase while attracting new listeners, though the controversy surrounding the lineup may overshadow the planned celebration.