Latest news with #BearRinehart
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock singer calls brother's claims he sexually abused him ‘wildly misleading'
Bear Rinehart, lead singer of the rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, has responded to sex abuse allegations made by his brother and former bandmate, Bo. After Bo accused his brother of sexually abusing him when they were children, Bear shared his side of the story on social media. 'My brother and I were both sexually abused at the age of 8 and 6 by a teenage counselor at the Christian camp where we grew up,' Bear wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday, June 14. 'Neither of us received support for these events until well into adulthood and were both left to navigate the rest of childhood and adolescence with deep pain and confusion.' The singer went on to say his brother's accusations 'conflates our shared experience of abuse with a childhood incident he misrepresents.' 'To now label me as an abuser in such a heartless way is not only deeply painful, but it is also wildly misleading and feels intentionally harmful,' Bear said after explaining how he and Bo went through therapy together to address the abuse. 'While going through a two day intensive counseling session with Bo five years ago, I learned that he was hurt by things that happened in our early teen years as well,' Bear wrote. 'At that counseling session I took full responsibility for any part I played in that pain. We processed those moments of shared trauma in detail and left with an understanding that we were two young boys trying to cope with the unimaginable.' Last Thursday, Bo shared a statement on social media alleging that he was sexually abused by multiple people during his childhood, including his brother Bear. 'This is Bo. I am an alcoholic. I am a sinner, but I am a believer. I believe in God's grace, and I believe that his mercy has shown that he is consistent, even though we don't deserve it,' Bo wrote on Instagram. 'I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I've been sexually abused by a Camp counselor. I've been sexually, physically and emotionally abused by my brother. And I've been abused by my youth pastor. 'I believe that God has bigger plans for me and part of those plans are telling my story because it's so hard for anyone to tell stories like these. Even when my faith has been crushed, I know that God still has provisions for me,' he continued. 'If you're out there and you're thinking, nothing can be done, no one can help, there's no way out… I'm with you… but I believe in a God who always finds a way. Don't give up and don't lose hope.' Despite all this, Bear said that he is 'still hopeful for a reconciliation some day with my brother.' NEEDTOBREATHE was formed by the Rinehart brothers in South Carolina. The band released its debut album, 'The Feature,' in 2001. NEEDTOBREATHE has since released nine more albums, six of which have topped the Christian Albums chart. The band has also charted multiple singles on several charts including including 'Washed by the Water' (No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart), 'Brother' with Gavin DeGraw (No. 98 the Hot 100), and 'Who Am I' (No. 14 on the Hot Alternative Songs chart). NEEDTOBREATHE received a Grammy Award nomination for their song 'Multiplied' in 2015. Bo left the group in 2020. Shawn Mendes 2025 tour coming to Boston, where to buy tickets online Green River Festival returns to Greenfield with world-class music lineup Rock band Gov't Mule to open The Big E Arena on 2025 fair's first night Live Wire: Four under-the-radar acts not to miss at Green River Festival Rock icon mocked for objecting to Trump using band's song without permission Read the original article on MassLive.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rock band torn apart after guitarist accused bandmate brother of sexual abuse
A Christian rock band has been torn apart after the guitarist accused his lead singer brother of sexually abusing him when they were children. Bo Rinehart, who was once a core member of group NeedToBreathe, leveled serious allegations against his brother, Bear, as well as a camp counselor and a youth pastor. Bear publicly denied the allegations, arguing instead that both brothers were sexually abused by a teenage camp counselor when they were aged six and eight, and that Bo had since conflated 'our shared experience of abuse with a childhood incident he misrepresents'. The pair formed the popular Christian rock band in 2001 along with two other bandmates. But Bo left the band five years ago, and this week aired his troubling grievances on Instagram. 'I am an alcoholic. I am a sinner, but I am a believer. I believe in God's grace, and I believe that this mercy has shown that he is consistent, even though we don't deserve it,' he wrote. 'I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I've been sexually abused by a Camp counselor. I've been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by my brother. And I've been abused by my youth pastor.' Bear's response came just a day later, also via Instagram. He said he felt 'the need to comment on the deeply hurtful and misleading accusations that my brother Bo made'. 'I would never choose to disparage him, especially at a time where he is clearly in pain. But as a father and husband, I must protect my family from claims that misrepresent the truth,' he added. Bear said he had chosen to keep details of the sexual abuse he suffered private in order to protect his family, but now felt compelled to come forward to defend his reputation. He explained that after he and his brother learned they were both abused by the camp counselor, they began therapy to talk through the grief, shame, anger, and confusion they'd harbored through adolescence. 'While going through a two-day intensive counseling session with Bo five years ago, I learned that he was hurt by things that happened in our early teen years as well,' he wrote. 'At that counseling session I took full responsibility for any part I played in that pain.' Bear said he and Bo were able to process 'moments of shared trauma in detail and left with an understanding that we were two young boys trying to cope with the unimaginable. 'To now label me an abuser in such a heartless way is not only deeply painful but is wildly misleading and feels intentionally harmful.' Bear said in spite of the allegations leveled against him, he still wants to repair his relationship with his brother. Fans of the brothers have expressed devastation over the revelations and urged the duo to work through their grief together and privately. 'This is so uncomfortable and heartbreaking. It really feels like something none of us should be informed of or be talking about,' one wrote. has contacted NeedToBreathe, Bo, and Bear for comment.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rock band torn apart after guitarist accused bandmate BROTHER of sexually abusing him
A Christian rock band has been torn apart after the guitarist accused his lead singer brother of sexually abusing him when they were children. Bo Rinehart, who was once a core member of group NeedToBreathe, leveled serious allegations against his brother, Bear, as well as a camp counselor and a youth pastor. Bear publicly denied the allegations, arguing instead that both brothers were sexually abused by a teenage camp counselor when they were aged six and eight, and that Bo had since conflated 'our shared experience of abuse with a childhood incident he misrepresents.' The pair formed the popular Christian rock band in 2001 along with two other bandmates. But Bo left the band five years ago, and this week aired his troubling grievances on Instagram. 'I am an alcoholic. I am a sinner, but I am a believer. I believe in God's grace, and I believe that this mercy has shown that he is consistent, even though we don't deserve it,' he wrote. 'I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. I've been sexually abused by a Camp counselor. I've been sexually, physically and emotionally abused by my brother. And I've been abused by my youth pastor.' Bear's response came just a day later, also via Instagram. He said he felt 'the need to comment on the deeply hurtful and misleading accusations that my brother Bo made.' 'I would never choose to disparage him, especially at a time where he is clearly in pain. But as a father and husband, I must protect my family from claims that misrepresent the truth.' Bear said he had chosen to keep details of the sexual abuse he suffered private in order to protect his family, but now felt compelled to come forward to defend his reputation. He explained that after he and his brother learned they were both abused by the camp counselor, they began therapy to talk through the grief, shame, anger and confusion they'd harbored through adolescence. 'While going through a two-day intensive counseling session with Bo five years ago, I learned that he was hurt by things that happened in our early teen years as well,' he wrote. 'At that counseling session I took full responsibility for any part I played in that pain.' Bear said he and Bo were able to process 'moments of shared trauma in detail and left with an understanding that we were two young boys trying to cope with the unimaginable. 'To now label me an abuser in such a heartless way is not only deeply painful but is wildly misleading and feels intentionally harmful.' Bo left the band five years ago, and this week aired his troubling grievances on Instagram Bear said in spite of the allegations leveled against him, he still wants to repair his relationship with his brother. Fans of the brothers have expressed devastation over the revelations and urged the duo to work through their grief together and privately. 'This is so uncomfortable and heartbreaking. It really feels like something none of us should be informed of or be talking about,' one wrote.
