NeedtoBreathe Frontman Accused of Sexually Assaulting His Own Brother?
NeedtoBreathe is an American rock band that formed in the early 2000s and eventually achieved crossover success despite initially being categorized as a “Christian band.”
Led by frontman Bear Rinehart, who founded the band with his brother Bo, they have won several GMA Dove awards, including ‘Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year’ in 2017 for their album HardLove and again in 2021 for their album Out of Body.
Earlier today, Bo Rinehart, who left the band in 2020, wrote on his Instagram account that he’s been sexually assaulted multiple times in his life, including being “sexually, physically and emotionally abused by my brother.”
June 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
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.
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.
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.
This was followed by a picture of his brother in a since-deleted Instagram story with the caption “sexual abuser.”
A 2023 People article about Bo’s sexual abuse reveals:
The band revealed Rinehart had stepped away from the group in 2020. The South Carolina native was deep in a battle with alcohol and, through years of trauma work, discovered his history was darker than he realized.
Rinehart was sexually abused by three different people between the ages of 6 and 16 years old. Until he started therapy, he didn’t remember much of it. Music helps him process his feelings. And his new song, “I’m Right Here,” is about losing himself at 6 years old and working to reconnect.
Neither Bear nor NeedtoBreathe have commented at the time of publishing.
Weird.