The kid of Chester Bennington A new chapter in Draven Bennington’s life is about to begin.
In a Valentine’s Day Instagram post on February 14, the 22-year-old son of Linkin Park, who passed away by suicide in 2017, revealed that they “came out as transgender” last year and are now going through a transition, saying it was “the perfect time to show some love to myself.”
“I tried to be someone I really wasn’t on the inside for a long time,” Draven said in the article. “Ignoring it worked for a while, but I couldn’t keep choosing between being happy and being complacent because I kept coming to that realization.”
The TV personality went on, “I made the decision to follow the path of happiness and being true to myself in August of last year.” “Starting hormone replacement therapy after coming out as transgender has been the best choice I’ve ever made in my life.”
Family, friends, and most importantly, their mother, Samantha Bennington, have been there for them, Draven stated. They added, “I love all of you who have shown me nothing but love and respect and who see me for who I really am.”
“I’ve developed the strength to love myself thanks to all the love and support I’ve had. I’ve decided to stop hiding who I am because of this. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” the artist said at the end of the post, adding, “Love is love.”
In the Paramount+ series Family Legacy, Draven previously spoke about their experience traveling with their dad’s rock band, reminiscing that the family would spend time together on the band’s off days.
Going rock climbing was one of our favorite activities to do together. Usually, my younger brother Tyler and I would be the only ones doing it. From time to time, we would go out to rock climb at Hangar 18. Simply enough, it was one of our favorites,” Draven said.
Draven’s family consists of elder brothers Jamie, 28, and Isaiah, 27, from the singer’s former relationship with Elka Brand, as well as brother Tyler, 18, and twin sisters Lily and Lila, 13, whom Chester welcomed with wife Talinda Bennington.
Draven said, “We’ve always had a great bond,” “I definitely have a closer bond with my younger siblings, just because we’re closer in age, but they’re all great.”
Draven has experimented with music and fashion throughout the years. Regarding fashion, they also said how much they always valued their father’s want to personalize items with unique alterations. The music of Linkin Park has also been influenced by their albums, especially Collision Course (2004).
“I think that album definitely has the most inspiration on my music style, but I also am inspired by having watched [my dad] having fun figuring out the right music,” said Draven. “When I started doing it, it was just for fun and all on my own.”