a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Bear Rinehart denies Bo Rinehart's abuse allegations in emotional response
NEEDTOBREATHE frontman Bear Rinehart has responded to serious allegations of childhood sexual abuse made by his brother and former bandmate, Bo Rinehart.
In a June 12 Instagram post, Bo accused multiple individuals, including Bear, of sexually, physically, and emotionally abusing him during his childhood.
On June 14, Bear addressed the claims via the Instagram account of his solo project, Wilder Woods. "I feel the need to comment on the deeply hurtful and misleading accusations that my brother Bo made," Bear wrote. He denied being an abuser and expressed concern for his family, stating, 'As a father and husband, I must protect my family from claims that misrepresent the truth.'
Bear revealed that both he and Bo were sexually abused at a Christian camp as children by a teenage counselor. He said they never received proper support until adulthood, which led to lasting trauma. Bear acknowledged a difficult counseling session five years ago, where he took responsibility for causing any pain during their adolescence but denied being an abuser.
'To now label me an abuser in such a heartless way is not only deeply painful, but also wildly misleading,' Bear wrote. He emphasized his love for Bo and hopes for eventual healing and reconciliation.
The allegations come years after Bo's departure from NEEDTOBREATHE in 2020. He has spoken publicly about his abuse history since then.
