Mike Shinoda responded to false reporting by TMZ that late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington had tested positive for MDMA (ecstasy) in his system prior to his suicide. The gossip site published the report based on an initial blood test that was "presumptive positive" for the drug but has since updated their article. Shinoda denied that drugs played any part in his bandmate's death and urged other media to correct their reporting.
“Just clearing this up: TMZ erroneously printed CB had MDMA in his system when he passed,” Shinoda wrote on Twitter. “That was incorrect, they misread the report. They have since corrected their piece, see below. I hope other publications have the decency to do the same.”
TMZ has since updated their story and wrote, "according to the autopsy and toxicology results, obtained by TMZ, the Linkin Park singer's blood also tested "presumptive positive" for MDMA (ecstasy) ... based on one test. Two subsequent tests did not detect the drug, and the ultimate conclusion was Chester was not under the influence of drugs when he died.
Bennington took his own life in July. He was 41.
A tribute concert was held by Linkin Park at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with guest appearances by System of a Down, Blink 182, and many more.
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