Attila vocalist Chris Fronzak has issued a public apology to Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo after facing backlash for a controversial joke posted online earlier this week.
The situation unfolded after Shomo deleted his Instagram account on March 2nd, a move that followed waves of online criticism tied to Beartooth’s new single ‘Free’ and its accompanying music video.
The track arrived late last week and marks Beartooth’s first release under Fearless Records, kicking off what Shomo has described as a deeply personal new chapter for the band.
The Backlash Around ‘Free’
The video for ‘Free’ revealed a dramatic new look for Shomo, which quickly sparked mixed reactions across social media.
While many fans embraced the shift, others flooded comment sections with criticism, according to some followers, the negativity even spilled over into posts made by Shomo’s wife, amplifying the online pressure (per The PRP).
Shortly after, Shomo’s Instagram account disappeared entirely, at the time of the single’s release, Shomo explained the emotional weight behind the track:
“‘Free‘ is the start of the next chapter of my music and my life. The emotional roller coaster that is living can be very complicated at times. In one day you can equally experience pure fear and pure joy. This song shows a glimpse of what is to come from the next Beartooth album, which is the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make.”
Fronzak’s Joke Sparks Criticism
Following news of Shomo deleting Instagram, Fronzak posted a joke on X (formerly Twitter) that quickly drew criticism from fans, one of the posts was later deleted.
The Attila frontman, who has built a reputation for pushing boundaries online, doubled down during several exchanges with users. In one interaction, he replied to a comment questioning men appearing feminine, which only intensified the backlash.
The conversation quickly snowballed across social media.
The Apology
Later that evening, Fronzak posted a public apology directed at Shomo:
“I would like to formally apologize for my tweet about Caleb Shomo. I meant it as a joke, but it didn’t come across that way. I don’t know what he’s going through at the moment, but I wish him the best. The world has too much hate rn & I don’t want to add any fuel to that fire. People will probably twist this into more negativity, but I am being honest. I meant it as a joke, not a jab at gay people. I personally thought it was lighthearted but I suppose that’s subjective.
From my perspective- I get death threats daily for over a decade. People call me horrific things & make up terrible stories. Horrible stuff every day. My perspective is skewed, the internet has desensitized me so I thought it was a 1/10 light joke. The reality is, people are struggling in their own ways, and jokes are subjective. You never know what someone is going through. Therefore, I am sorry, and I will work towards thinking about things deeper before I just word-vomit sh*t into this bird app. Love yall”
Support From The Scene
Amid the online fallout, The Word Alive vocalist Tyler ‘Telle’ Smith also publicly voiced support for Shomo, adding another voice to the broader discussion unfolding across the metalcore community.
Whether the situation settles down quickly or continues to ripple through the scene remains to be seen. For now, the focus appears to be shifting back toward Beartooth’s new era, with ‘Free’ signalling the beginning of their next album cycle.
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