NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart Addresses Sexual Abuse Allegations

⁤ ‌ ⁤⁤ Updated June 14, 2025

Bear Rinehart, lead singer of​ the​ band‌ NEEDTOBREATHE, has responded to allegations of ⁢sexual abuse made ⁣by his brother and former bandmate, Bo Rinehart. The accusations surfaced in a as-deleted Instagram Story ​where Bo​ labeled ‌Bear​ as a “sexual abuser.”

In a lengthy⁢ statement‌ posted‍ on the Instagram ⁣account for his solo project, Wilder Woods, Bear addressed the ​claims, revealing a shared childhood trauma. He stated that both he and⁢ bo were‍ sexually abused as children by‍ a teenage ‍counselor at a Christian‌ camp ⁤in South Carolina.

bear explained that he had chosen to keep this facts private ⁢to protect his family,particularly his three young sons. ‌However, Bo’s recent post made it impossible‍ to remain silent any longer. He ​emphasized that while he respects Bo’s right to ‌share his story, he cannot allow him to misrepresent his own.

According‍ to Bear, Bo’s accusation conflates their shared experience ⁤of⁢ abuse with a ⁢childhood ​incident that⁣ Bo misrepresents. Bear stated that during ‍a counseling session five years ago, he took full duty for any part he played in⁢ Bo’s pain related to⁢ their⁢ early teen years. He now feels ‍that ‍being labeled an abuser⁤ is ⁣deeply painful ‍and ⁢misleading.

Bo Rinehart left NEEDTOBREATHE in 2020.In a 2023 interview ⁢with People,Bo discussed coming‍ to terms with‍ his experience of sexual abuse as an adult,revealing that he was abused by three different ‌individuals.

Bear Rinehart concluded his message by expressing hope for ‌reconciliation with Bo, stating,‍ “I truly do pray for this healing. I believe that⁤ all of us are broke and in need of a savior. My brother ⁣and I are no different.”

Bo Rinehart saeid, “I believe that God has bigger plans​ for me and part of those plans are telling my⁢ story as it’s so⁣ hard for anyone to tell stories like these…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.”

bear Rinehart wrote, “I⁢ feel the need to comment on the deeply hurtful and‍ misleading accusations that my brother Bo ⁣made the⁤ other night on social media… I love Bo deeply and I always will… But as ⁢a father and ⁣husband, I must​ protect my family from claims that misrepresent the truth.”

Bear ​Rinehart ⁤continued, “Until now, I had chosen to not share ⁤this publicly — not because I’m ‍ashamed,⁢ but because I’ve wanted to protect my‌ family…Bo’s ⁣post has now made it impossible for me to remain private⁣ about this period of our childhood any longer… ‌I have always ‌respected Bo’s ⁤right to speak about his own story, but​ I cannot allow him to misrepresent mine.”

bear Rinehart‍ went on to claim that “my brother and I were both ‍sexually abused ‌at the age of 8 ⁢and⁤ 6 by a teenage counselor… Neither of us ‌received support ⁢for ‌these events until well into adulthood… I later “found freedom” after counseling and support from⁢ loved ones.”

Bear Rinehart continued, “Bo’s ​recent accusation of me conflates our shared experience ‍of abuse with a childhood incident ‍he misrepresents… To now label me an‌ abuser in such a‌ heartless way is not only deeply painful,⁢ but ​is also wildly misleading and ⁤feels‍ intentionally harmful.”

bear Rinehart concluded ‍his message ‍by expressing ⁣hope that he‍ and Bo can reconcile someday. “I truly do pray for this healing,” ​he wrote. “I believe ⁤that ‌all of us are ‍broke and ⁣in need of a savior. My brother and I are no different.”

What’s ⁢next

The situation remains ongoing, and⁣ further statements from ⁤both Bear and ⁤Bo‍ Rinehart, as well⁢ as NEEDTOBREATHE, might potentially be released as the ⁣situation‍ develops.