Caleb Shomo, the 33-year-old frontman of the rock band Beartooth, said he encountered widespread homophobia after publicly revealing he is gay, an experience he described as emotionally draining and one that led him to temporarily withdraw from the internet.

Speaking on "The Breakdown with Nath & Johnny" podcast, Shomo recounted coming out privately to friends and family in September 2025 before making a public statement in May 2026 in which he identified as a "proudly gay man."

"I had already decided, like, I'm not gonna water myself down at all," Shomo said. "I'm going to just do what I wanna do. 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, and that has the freedom to do that."

That decision, he said, was met with immediate opposition.

"And that was met with a lot of opposition and a lot of … I mean, really, just a lot of homophobia, and a lot of people who really were not okay with me presenting that way at all, with what I was doing, any of it," he told the podcast hosts.

Shomo described the response as frequently leaving him in a "really, really bad place," making it difficult to summon energy for performances. He said he stepped away from the internet for a period and that the criticism from what he called "very vocal" detractors has continued despite the band releasing new material.

Divorce and support

Shomo and his wife, Fleur, jointly filed for divorce in May 2026, ending their 14-year marriage the same month he came out publicly. Fleur Shomo, an actress who has appeared in the medical drama "The Pitt," has expressed support for him, as have his bandmates. According to court documents, the couple listed their date of separation as 27 March; they have no children.

In a subsequent message, Fleur Shomo described the end of the marriage as "disorientating and hurtful," while still offering support to her former husband.

Looking ahead

Shomo said he is channeling his experiences into a forthcoming record, noting he has "a lot that [he] needs to say." He described his approach to mental health and the future as taking "baby steps."

The Trevor Project offers support for those facing similar challenges at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting "START" to 678-678.