In a deeply personal and emotional revelation, former NEEDTOBREATHE member Bo Rinehart has publicly accused his brother, Bear Rinehart, of years of serious abuse during their childhood.

Bo Rinehart says he was sexually abused by multiple individuals, including Bear, while Bear has denied abusing his brother but acknowledged they both were sexually assaulted by a camp counselor as children, The Christian Post reported.

Bo Rinehart, 43, came forward on social media to share that he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. In his posts, he named a camp counselor, a youth pastor, and also claimed to have been “sexually, physically, and emotionally” abused by his older brother, Bear Rinehart. The brothers were raised in a faith-centered household as sons of a pastor.

Bo’s accusations included a photograph of Bear posted to Instagram Stories, with the words “Sexual Abuser” written over his torso, according to Church Leaders. These public posts came just days after Bo had identified himself as both a follower of faith and someone recovering from alcohol addiction. He described his experiences of suffering from abuse that was “so hard for anyone to tell.”

Bear Rinehart, 44, issued a public statement in response, denying Bo’s claims of abuse. He expressed that the accusations were “deeply hurtful and misleading” and said he felt obligated to speak out to safeguard the well-being and understanding of his family, particularly his children. Bear stated that he has three young sons and had hoped to share his past with them when the time was right.

Both Brothers Share Childhood Trauma

Despite rejecting the accusation that he had harmed Bo, Bear confirmed that both brothers were sexually abused as children. He said they were targeted at ages 8 and 6, respectively, by a teenage counselor while attending a Christian camp. Bear emphasized that they received no help for those traumatic events for many years.

“Neither of us received support for these events until well into adulthood,” Bear said in his statement, noting they grew up navigating their pain and confusion on their own. He acknowledged the long-lasting emotional damage from the abuse they endured in secrecy. The two spent years dealing with these unresolved wounds without formal support systems in place.

Five years ago, the brothers reportedly participated in a two-day counseling session. During this session, Bo confronted Bear with emotional baggage tied to incidents that had occurred in their adolescence. According to Bear, he accepted responsibility for anything he had done that might have caused his younger brother distress.

Differing Views on Critical Counseling Session

Bear believed that the session had led to a resolution or at least a shared understanding between the two. He did not expect the matter to resurface in a forum as public as social media years later. In his statement, Bear conveyed his pain from being “labeled an abuser in such a heartless way.”

He explained that because of Bo’s public accusations, maintaining any form of privacy had become “impossible.” Bear suggested that the choice to bring their personal history into the public eye left him with few options but to respond. He expressed sorrow over how this has affected not just him but his family, saying the charges were not only damaging but also inaccurate.

Despite everything, Bear ended his statement with an expression of hope. “Even after all of this, I am still hopeful for a reconciliation someday with my brother that I know only God can provide,” he wrote, leaning on the faith that has guided both brothers throughout their lives. The depth of unresolved conflict between them remains unknown, but Bear's words suggested he still harbors a desire for eventual healing.

Band’s Rise to Fame and Split

Bo and Bear co-founded NEEDTOBREATHE in 1998, building the band into a well-known act incorporating both rock influences and spiritual overtones. The group gained national attention in 2011 while touring with Taylor Swift during her Speak Now World Tour. Their music, though not branded explicitly as Christian, often reflected their faith backgrounds and convictions.

The band has seen considerable success over the years, releasing ten full-length albums and earning a Grammy nomination in 2015. Additionally, the group has won 15 Dove Awards, further establishing their presence in the spiritual music landscape. Their ability to blend faith with alternative rock earned them a devoted following across multiple genres.

Bo departed from the band in 2020. At the time, the group issued a statement of appreciation for his artistic contributions, highlighting his brave and respected approach to visual and musical expression. Following his departure, he began producing music under the name Coy Roy.

Aftermath and New Developments

In the wake of Bo's exit, Tyler Burkum, formerly a member of the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, joined NEEDTOBREATHE as Bo’s replacement. The band has continued to perform and record without public conflicts until now. The current revelations are the first time Bo and Bear’s relationship struggles have been aired so openly.

As the story continues to unfold, fans and observers are sorting through decades of musical collaboration overshadowed by painful personal history. The Rinehart brothers' story invites examination of the long-term impact of childhood trauma, even among those in the public eye. Questions about truth, accountability, and potential reconciliation remain unresolved.

For now, both brothers have shared their accounts, and while their truths diverge on critical points, both agree on the shared tragedy of their early abuse. Whether those shared experiences can lead to healing or further division is yet to be seen. Their journey continues, now under a public spotlight neither likely wished for.