BEARTOOTH's CALEB SHOMO On His Decision To Come Out As 'A Proudly Gay Man': It's 'Something That A Large Group Of People Just Don't Understand'

In a new interview with Christina Wenig of Germany's Diffus magazine, BEARTOOTH vocalist Caleb Shomo spoke about his decision to publicly come out as gay following online speculation surrounding his personal life. Shomo's announcement came in May 2026 after the singer temporarily stepped away from social media amid backlash and homophobic comments related to his appearance in the music video that accompanied BEARTOOTH's "Free" single. Asked why "Free" was chosen to be released five months ago as the first taste of BEARTOOTH's latest album, "Pure Ecstasy", which followed in August, Caleb said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It just had to be that song, at least with everything that was going on in my life and where I was at. It's that fearlessness. It's, like, yeah, I could have chose something that's a little more down the line, classic BEARTOOTH, all the tricks, all the usual song structure and all that. But it just didn't feel as real. I just wanted to make a statement — to myself as well that, like, 'This is it, dude. There's no going back.' And that one was very, very scary because I had been out and open about who I was to friends and family for a while before that came out. And so, to me, it felt a lot more normal. And I'm wearing more makeup, wearing more outfits that I like that make me feel good, wearing nails, and I just wasn't even really thinking about it. I was just so deep in finishing the record when we shot that video and when it came out and was out in the middle of a tour, that when it came out, it almost reminded me. I was, like, 'Oh yeah. People are completely unaware of this.'"

Regarding the feedback he received from the BEARTOOTH fans to the "Free" single, Caleb said: "The response was, um, a lot. Yeah, it was pretty intense. A lot of people had strong opinions. Some people were for it, some people were against it. I mean, that's just art. That's just life. But also, at that time, I had so much in my personal life that I was trying to deal with that I just decided to kind of, like, get away from the world and get off the Internet for a while when that came out. And I'm so thankful that we were on that tour [as the support act for] BAD OMENS because that tour really kept me going in so many ways. I have a lot of love for that band, for their team, the support that they gave me and gave us, and the space they provided for me to kind of deal with this remarkably stressful period of life was amazing. At that point, though, also it was just kind of like a real eye-opener to the reality of it, and that this is just going to be something that a large group of people just don't understand."

Shomo added: "I know, for me in my heart, the only reason I do this is because I just wanna be as happy as I possibly can be while I'm doing that thing. So, shooting a music video, being on stage, making a record, these are the most precious moments of my life. These are the most important memories I will have on my deathbed. And at this point in my life, I had spent so long watering those experiences down out of fear, and to just finally say, 'Fuck it. Who cares? I'm just gonna do whatever I wanna do. If people get it, they get it. If they don't, they don't.' To kind of rip off that Band-Aid was so empowering. And it's just led to where I'm at now, where I am really just doing it for me. And I think a lot of people think it's a — I don't know — some sort of an act or some sort of like a mask I'm wearing, or I don't know, or I'm doing it for success. I'm, like, if I was trying to get more successful, this is the last thing I would have done. I'm just trying to be happy. It is so simple. That's all I've been trying to do in this band. And I will say now, we're six months removed from 'Free' coming out, and the record's out, and we're on the road and everything, I'm learning that there are a group of people who really do get it and do see me for me, and just see me as a very simple... I'm just simply a boy who loves music, who loves to rock and who just wants to have a really good time doing it. I mean, honestly, 'Free' is, like, one of the most important songs that I will ever have in my life, ever. And at this point, I am incredibly proud of it."

Shomo came out as a gay man in an Instagram post, telling his social media followers: "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.

"I am a proudly gay man. This is something I've been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now.

The 33-year-old musician said suppressing his sexual orientation had been "difficult to navigate" and that he was "embarrassed" for not allowing himself "to really dig up the roots for so long."

Shortly after Caleb's original Instagram post, Fleur Shomo, his wife of 14 years, also wrote a statement on social media following her husband's coming out and encouraged BEARTOOTH fans to "continue to support Caleb."

"I will always want to love, protect and support Caleb. I have cared more about his well-being over the years than anything else in the world," Fleur Shomo wrote. "To see the confusion and pain he went through and the highs and lows and wanting to help but now knowing how. You never want anything more for your person than for them to just be ok."

She continued: "Our nearly 14 years of marriage was wonderful and full of so much fun, adventure & love. Nobody will know anything about our marriage like we do. And no one can ever truly know what depths of love exist between two people unless they are those people. I already miss it & my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it is done."

Fleur and Caleb tied the knot in April 2012. They do not have any children together.

"Pure Ecstasy" was released on August 28 via Fearless Records.

The North American leg of BEARTOOTH's "Pure Ecstasy World Tour" will begin on November 11 in Boston and include stops at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on November 12 and The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on December 18. Special guests DON BROCO, MAGNOLIA PARK and WINDWAKER are the support for the U.S. dates.