Fans showed support for Ohio singer Caleb Shomo after he opened up about facing homophobia following his coming out and divorce from his wife of 14 years.
Shomo, best known as the frontman of the metalcore band Beartooth, publicly came out as gay in May 2026. He described himself as a “proudly gay man” after spending months privately coming to terms with his sexuality. Shomo had been married to Fleur Shomo for 14 years. The couple then filed for divorce around the same time as his public announcement. Fleur has publicly expressed that she continues to love and support Caleb, while acknowledging that the end of their marriage has been emotionally difficult.
The singer discussed what happened after coming out during an episode of “The Breakdown with Nath & Johnny.” He explained that he had already decided to live authentically after everything that happened. “I had already decided, like, I’m not gonna water myself down at all. 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,” he said.
Unfortunately, Shomo added that he faced homophobic attacks after coming out. “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, according to Page Six. He admitted that he had to step away from the internet for a while because of the negativity. He explained that he was “going through so much” at the time.
The situation also took a toll on Shomo and affected him personally. “I mean, a lot of the day I’d be spent in a really, really bad place and just trying to find enough energy and enough will to get myself warmed up and get on that stage and do my [expletive] job,” he said.
The singer added that the backlash did not disappear as Beartooth continued releasing more music. “And it didn’t really change as we kept releasing more songs, and the very vocal opposition continued and still continues to. And, yeah, me coming out didn’t help that. And just being honest with people about who I am and what’s been going on,” he said. Shomo added that he is now trying to take “baby steps” as he navigates this new chapter of his life.
Fans Support Ohio Singer Over Homophobic Backlash
Fans quickly showed support and sympathy for Ohio singer Caleb Shomo after he spoke about the homophobia he has faced since recently coming out. “His parents were religious and he married as a teen. It’s lowkey sad,” one person wrote. Another person said, “Listen, his collab with Tom Morello for a track in Final Fantasy XIV remains a goddamn banger. I dig the new look and hope he feels more comfortable in his own skin these days.” Someone else added, “Fake metal heads are homophobic as [expletive]. Real metal heads support the LGBTQ+.”
Others commented on the situation involving Shomo’s 14-year marriage, with some arguing that it was unfair to assume he had knowingly misled his former wife about his sexuality. “I’m baffled by everyone here who is so certain he knowingly lead on his ex wife and always ‘knew’ he was gay and just never told her. People can have their queer awakening after years of thinking they’re straight and even having existing relationships only to discover that they aren’t straight ages on. You’re assuming he knew all along and intentionally withheld the information from her for 14 years. That [expletive] reeks of homophobia,” one person said.
Caleb Shomo’s revelation about the homophobia he faced sparked a broader conversation about the backlash celebrities can experience after coming out. It also highlighted the importance of supporting people in these situations, especially when others may have little idea what they have been dealing with behind the scenes.
