Rock star says homophobia took toll after coming out following 14-year marriage

EntertainmentCaleb Shomo said homophobic backlash after he publicly came out left him struggling emotionally and sometimes made performing difficult. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)Amy Harris/Invision/APBeartooth frontman Caleb Shomo says he faced widespread homophobia after publicly identifying as gay, a backlash that took such an emotional toll he temporarily withdrew from the internet.The 33-year-old musician discussed the challenges Friday on “The Breakdown with Nath & Johnny” podcast, according to Page Six. Shomo came out privately to friends and family in September 2025 before publicly identifying as a “proudly gay man” in May 2026.After deciding to live authentically, Shomo said he committed to being himself without compromise.“I had already decided, like, I’m not gonna water myself down at all,” Shomo said on the podcast. “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 brought 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 said.The response proved emotionally draining, frequently leaving him in a “really, really bad place,” Shomo told the podcast hosts. He stepped away from the internet and struggled to find energy for performances. The criticism from what he described as “very vocal” detractors has persisted even as the band releases new material.Shomo and his wife, Fleur, jointly filed for divorce in May 2026, ending their 14-year marriage the same month he came out publicly. His former spouse and bandmates have expressed support for him.The musician said he is channeling his experiences into a forthcoming record where he has “a lot that [he] needs to say.” Discussing his mental health and future, Shomo said he is 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.Megan Sims is a viral reporter for cleveland.com and a Cleveland native. She covers topics ranging from celebrity news, national business news, social media and more. Previously, Megan covered various lifestyle...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.