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Caleb Shomofrontman of Columbus, Ohio metal band Beartooth, has come out as a “proud gay man” after, in his own words, “a decade of burying feelings with alcohol.”
The singer and multi-instrumentalist made the announcement in his social media: “There has been a lot of speculation about my personal life lately, and I feel an obligation to set the record straight before it further burdens those I love. I am a proud gay man.”
Shomo continued, “This is something I have been grappling with and grappling with in my life for quite some time. It’s been difficult dealing with the feelings surrounding this topic and figuring out what to do with this fact.”
Five albums, deep roots
The band Beartooth, founded by Shomo, was formed in 2012 and has released five albums since 2014. “I have always strived to pursue who I am in the deepest part of my soul from album to album,” Shomo wrote on Saturday. “Anyone who has followed the band in the past years knows: There are four very self-critical albums about coming to terms with my religious upbringing, depression, self-hatred, self-loathing and hopelessness. I’m grateful for all of these albums, but sometimes I’m ashamed that I didn’t allow myself to really get to the roots for so long.”
Shomo added: “I spent a decade burying feelings with alcohol. When I decided to stop and focus on why I felt that way for so long, it was a direct path to coming to terms with my sexuality in the hope that it would eventually lead me to self-love.”
Beartoth’s sixth album, “Pure Ecstasy,” will be released in August. “One thing I decided before writing a single note or line of the upcoming album: whatever happens, I will express myself wholeheartedly and completely,” Shomo wrote. “Wherever it takes me, I will follow, and I refuse to water down any part of it – from the music to the lyrical content to the way I present myself. I will only do what makes me happy on the deepest level and is the most honest representation of who I am.”
Fleur Shomo’s statement
Fleur Shomo, Caleb’s wife of 14 years, also released a statement on social media Saturday following her husband’s coming out, urging Beartooth fans to “continue to support Caleb.”
“I will always want to love, protect and support Caleb. His well-being has been more important to me over the years than anything else in the world,” wrote Fleur Shomo. “Seeing the confusion and pain he’s been through, the ups and downs, and wanting to help but not knowing how. You want nothing more for your person than for them to just be okay.”
She continued, “Our nearly 14 years of marriage have been beautiful and filled with so much fun, adventure and love. No one will ever know as much about our marriage as we do. And no one can truly know the depth of love between two people except those people themselves. I already miss her and my husband more than anything. Our story was a good one. And now it’s over.”
