Korn guitarist Brian Welch says Linkin Park's Chester Bennington took 'cowardly way out'

Brian "Head" Welch, guitarist and co-founder of the band Korn, expressed his dismay at the news of the suicide of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, saying he chose "the cowardly way out" by taking his own life.

Bennington, 41, was found dead at his home in Palos Verdes in California on Thursday morning. Police later confirmed that the singer had hung himself.

Welch, who became a Christian after struggling with suicide and depression, reacted to the news of Bennington's suicide in a Facebook post on Thursday expressing his disapproval of the act.

"Honestly, Chester's an old friend who we've hung with many times, and I have friends who are extremely close to him, but this is truly pissing me off! How can these guys send this message to their kids and fans?! I'm sick of this suicide s***!" he wrote.

"I've battled depression/mental illness, and I'm trying to be sympathetic, but it's hard when you're pissed! Enough is enough! Giving up on your kids, fans, and life is the cowardly way out!!! I'm sorry, I know meds and/or alcohol may have been involved, I'm just processing like all of us and I know we are all having some of the same thoughts/feelings," he went on to say.

Welch later apologized for the comment, saying he did not mean to sound insensitive about the issue. He also posted a video offering encouragement to those struggling with depression and mental illness.

Greg Laurie, senior pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, also reacted to the news, noting that many people were shocked after learning of Bennington's death. He encouraged those struggling with suicidal thoughts to remember that there is hope in Jesus.

Bennington, who is survived by his wife Talinda Ann Bentley and six children, has previously said that he started abusing drugs after his parents divorced when he was 11. He also revealed that an older man sexually abused him when he was just a child.

His apparent suicide coincided with the birthday of his close friend, Chris Cornell, who also reportedly committed suicide by hanging on May 18 at the age of 52.

Cornell, the lead singer of Soundgarden, was found with seven different drugs in his body at the time of his death, according to a toxicology report.

That same month, Bennington reportedly had difficulty making it through a live performance of the song "One More Light," which debuted around the time Cornell died.

Law enforcement officials said that Bennington hanged himself from a door in his bedroom, in a similar manner to Cornell's suicide.

Bennington's friends and family are said to be in "shock" over the news as they said they believed he "was in a good place in his life."