Beartooth's Caleb Shomo announces he is gay

Caleb Shomo, the lead vocalist and founder of the metalcore band Beartooth, announced on social media that he is gay, ending months of public speculation. In a statement posted on May 23, Shomo wrote that he felt compelled to address the rumors before they affected those he loves. “I am a proudly gay man,” he said, describing the announcement as part of a long personal journey.

Shomo, 33, explained that he has been reckoning with his sexuality for quite some time. He said he spent a decade burying his feelings with alcohol, and that it was only after he stopped drinking that he began to explore the roots of his identity. “It’s been a direct path to me reconciling with my sexuality in hopes that it will eventually lead to me experiencing self love,” he wrote. He expressed embarrassment that he had not allowed himself to confront the issue sooner, noting that his earlier albums with Beartooth explored themes of depression, self hatred, and religious upbringing but did not address his sexuality directly.

The announcement came hours after Shomo’s wife of 14 years, Fleur Shomo, also broke her silence on the revelation. In a separate social media post, Fleur described the past few...