Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo broke his silence on Saturday with a personal Instagram statement that stopped the rock world mid-scroll.
"There's been a lot of speculation surrounding my personal life as of late and I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further," he wrote. "I am a proudly gay man. This is something I've been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now."
Shomo grew up the son of a church pastor in Westerville, Ohio. His grandfather on his father's side was a well-known gospel singer in his community. Faith and music were never separate things in his home.
In his statement, Shomo reflected on how Beartooth's earlier albums explored his religious upbringing, depression, self-hatred, and hopelessness - and acknowledged that he relied on alcohol to cope with confusion surrounding his identity. Four albums. One long, quiet battle.
The statement comes after months of online harassment that followed the release of Beartooth's single "Free" earlier this year. Shomo originally deleted all of his social profiles after being targeted with homophobic slurs over his appearance in the music video. He returned to Instagram quietly earlier this month.
He closed his statement by encouraging others struggling with identity to be patient with themselves. "Holding these things in only hurt you and those around you," he wrote.
Beartooth's new album arrives August 28. Their fall US tour launches November 11 in Boston.
