Beartooth singer Caleb Shomo says he faced homophobia after coming out
Beartooth singer Caleb Shomo says he faced "a lot of homophobia" after coming out as gay in May 2026 and divorcing his wife of 14 years, Fleur Shomo. On Friday's episode of "The Breakdown with Nath & Johnny," the 33-year-old rocker said backlash to his authentic self-presentation made touring and daily life "really tough," even as he vowed not to "water myself down."
Key Takeaways
- Shomo came out privately in September 2025 and publicly announced he was a "proudly gay man" in May 2026.
- He told the podcast he faced vocal opposition and homophobia over how he dressed, sang, and presented himself on stage.
- The musician stepped back from the internet and said performing while struggling emotionally was "tough."
- Shomo and Fleur filed for divorce jointly in May; she and his bandmates publicly supported him.
- He is working on new music and teased a forthcoming record with "a lot" he still needs to process.
Caleb Shomo, frontman of the metalcore band Beartooth, opened up in a candid interview about the personal and professional fallout that followed his decision to live openly. The conversation adds new context to a story that has drawn attention across celebrity breaking news since his May Instagram announcement.
What did Caleb Shomo say about the backlash he faced?
Shomo told hosts Nath and Johnny that after coming out, he committed to full creative freedom. "I'm going to just do what I wanna do," he said. "I'm gonna wear what I wanna wear. I'm gonna sing how I wanna sing. I'm gonna look how I wanna look and just enjoy being an artist that's allowed to do that."
That approach, he said, was "met with a lot of opposition" and "really, just a lot of homophobia." He described fans and observers who "were not okay with me presenting that way at all, with what I was doing, any of it."
Shomo added that the criticism did not fade as Beartooth released more music. "The very vocal opposition continued and still continues to," he said, noting that honesty about his identity "didn't help that."
Why did Caleb Shomo step away from social media?
Shomo explained he was "going through so much" and chose to "get off the internet for a while" to shut out the noise. The "I Was Alive" singer said he still needed to deliver on stage, but many days left him in "a really, really bad place."
"I'd be spent in a really, really bad place and just trying to find enough energy and enough will to get myself warmed up and get on that stage and do my f–king job," he told the podcast. He called the period "tough" but said he is taking "baby steps" toward processing everything through his art.
When did Shomo come out and what happened with his marriage?
According to Page Six, Shomo first came out to friends and family in September 2025. He was still married to Fleur Shomo at the time. In May 2026, he told fans via Instagram that he was "a proudly gay man."
Bandmates and Fleur publicly backed him, with Fleur vowing to "love and support him." That same month, the couple jointly filed for divorce after 14 years of marriage. Shomo teased a new record, saying he has "a lot that he needs to say" and is working through his experiences step by step.
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