The 41-year-old, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, has been described as a “legend” and a “gentle giant”.
A man who died in a horror Land Rover crash in Perthshire has been named locally as Loren MacGillivray.
Advertisement
Emergency crews raced to the scene on the Auchterarder to Aberuthven Road, near to Damside, at around 2.40pm on Friday, August 28.
The 41-year-old, who was the driver of the Land Rover Freelander, died at the scene.
No one else was injured in the crash.
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Loren, known as LJ, who has been described as a “legend” and “gentle giant”.
Billy Vaughan said: This guy is and always will be a legend in Auchterarder and beyond. We saw Minions just two weeks ago. Loren, you will always be in my heart and thoughts.
“They say only the good die young. Words are too difficult to type. You were one in a billion. Until we meet again brother. Fly high.”
Dale Robert Mcnally wrote: “RIP LJ such a great guy gone far too soon”.
Sara Spittal said: “Can’t believe it – absolutely heartbreaking. He was such a gentle giant. Sending condolences and thoughts to the whole family at this sad time.”
Jemma Connelly said: “Rest easy buddy will miss your infectious laugh”.
Advertisement
Charli Crawford wrote: “What a gentle giant. Rest easy, LJ”.
Dale Robert Mcnally added: “RIP LJ such a great guy gone far too soon”.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Stuart Walker, a friend of Loren’s mum, to help cover funeral costs.
Police closed the road for nine hours to allow for a crash investigation. Officers have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Advertisement
Sergeant Brian McEwen said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this crash. I am appealing for anyone who witnessed it or who has information which could assist our investigation to contact us.
“I would also ask anyone who was in the area and may have dash-cam footage to please get in touch if it holds anything which could be relevant. Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1975 of August 28, 2026.”
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
The event began with an emotional tribute to the two Cleveland Police officers who died in a horror head-on smash on the A66 .
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were remembered with applause before the start of the race as competitors gathered on the start line.
Middlesbrough’s Max Creasey took first place in the men’s race, crossing the line in 30 minutes and 32 seconds.
The 22-year-old, who represents Middlesbrough Athletic Club (Mandale), narrowly held off Finn Brodie, who finished second in 30 minutes and 35 seconds. Adam Theaker was third in 32 minutes and two seconds.
Advertisement
Creasey said: “I’m really happy to take the win on my home course. I’ve had a few second places so it’s really nice to finally come first.
Max Creasey, 22, was first place in the men’s rankings. (Image: MAX CREASEY)
“Big thanks to all the event organisers and volunteers for putting on a great event.
“It’s been a tough week for Teessiders with the loss of two of our heroic police officers and a load of negative stories about the area, but it was really nice to see the true spirit of Teesside from thousands of runners and supporters.”
Jessica Robertson-Dover, of City of York AC, was the first woman home, completing the course in 37 minutes and six seconds.
Advertisement
Jessica Robert-Dover came home in first place in the women’s category. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Ruth Cole finished second in 38 minutes 53 seconds, with Abby Codling taking third in 39 minutes and 35 seconds.
Others ran not for to set a personal best but raise money for charity, while some donned extravagant costumes including Paul Waugh who dressed as Fred Flinstone and Helen Carr who ran as an inflatable triceratops.
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The Middlesbrough 5 and 10k run. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy aging and even predictors of longevity.
They can provide valuable indications of your stamina and strength. They can estimate the risk of falls, which increase older adults ‘ risk of death. And they’re useful to doctors who work to address aging or people with injuries.
But they’re no crystal ball.
“A poor or declining result is a reason for a health professional to investigate why function is changing, rather than gauging how long someone will live,” said Auriel Willette, an expert on brain aging at Rutgers University.
Advertisement
Here’s a look at what mobility tests entail and how to apply the results to your health.
This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well.
A sit-to-stand test goes viral, but what does it really show?
“Sit-to-stand” tests come in several forms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 30-second chair-stand test is designed for patients older than 60, to see how many times they can stand up in that time period.
Another test, popularized on social media, asks someone to move from standing, to sitting cross-legged on the ground, and then back up to standing. Making your way down to the floor is worth 5 points, as is standing up, for a total score of 10. You lose a point for each support you use (such as a hand or knee) and half a point if you’re unsteady. The score is zero if you’re unable to sit or stand without external help.
Advertisement
Doctors said they haven’t seen the test used with older U.S. adults, but researchers in Brazil published studies in 2020 and 2025 that concluded middle-aged people who scored higher were less likely to die within about a decade.
Many American doctors use a test called “Timed Up and Go,” or TUG. It requires the patient to get up from a chair, walk 10 feet (3 meters) and come back to their seat. That allows doctors to evaluate a person’s balance, mobility and lower extremity strength all at once.
Dr. George Hennawi, who treats older adults at MedStar Health in Baltimore, said all the tests are meant to pinpoint specific weaknesses and narrow down their underlying cause, whether that’s knee pain, slow reflexes, poor balance or feeling winded or dizzy because of cardiovascular issues.
“The key to react to it is to understand where did we not do well,” he said.
Advertisement
A full picture of a person’s health is important
Tests like the viral sit-to-stand one are what doctors call screening tools. They’re helpful in narrowing down issues, but they don’t provide enough information for a full diagnosis.
Other popular tests for a person’s “physiological age,” or how your body is aging, include tests of grip strength, walking speed, gait steadiness and balance. Such tests look at how hard your hand can squeeze something, whether you favor one side while walking, how long and well can you stand on one leg and how far forward can you reach without becoming unsteady.
Many doctors also use these challenges to understand a person’s risk for “frailty,” a medical condition that means the body is less able to handle strain from illness or injury.
Doctors sometimes use a 10-minute assessment called the Short Physical Performance Battery, which includes several tests including gait, balance and strength. It was developed by the National Institute on Aging and large clinical trials have shown it predicts mortality, disability and more.
Advertisement
At the University of California, Los Angeles’ Multidisciplinary Falls Clinic, Dr. David Lee said it’s important to look across multiple tests in combination. Grip strength, for example, is predictive of many different things, but it can be affected by arthritis, stroke or even simply not conditioning those muscles.
“It’s one measure of many,” Lee said.
Good health is about more than a good score
Experts note that strength and mobility are just one part of healthy aging. Tests of cognition, memory, hearing, eyesight and many other measures are key to evaluating how someone is aging.
They also cautioned against training to pass a test. Instead, keep the big picture in mind. Exercise your whole body. Eat nutritious meals. Address stress in a healthy way. Prioritize your sleep. Take care of your heart.
Advertisement
Finally, experts said it’s important to know the context in which a test has been studied and verified. If it’s shown to predict an outcome for one age group, the performance standards won’t necessarily apply to others.
If you score poorly in a mobility test and are concerned about your fall risk, or have recently fallen, talk to your doctor. The test results are the first step in determining if you need an assistive device, physical therapy, a change in medications or something else, said Emily Nabors, a falls prevention expert with The National Council on Aging.
She cited one estimate that more than a quarter of older adults fall each year, but most of them don’t tell their doctor about it.
“If you’ve fallen, you might feel fine,” she said, “but you might not be fine at all.”
Advertisement
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
‘We have just watched the greatest football Championship in history. Only in the GAA then could we then have a proposal for some newer rules.’
21:53, 30 Aug 2026
Advertisement
We have just watched the greatest football championship in history.
Perhaps that sounds excessive. It probably is. But after years of being told that Gaelic football was broken, that something had to be done, it is worth pausing for a moment and considering the evidence.
Everything was good about it. The famines ended. Westmeath won Leinster. Armagh won Ulster. And Mayo, eventually, completed the story by winning the All-Ireland.
There were the great narratives away from the main stage, too. Louth beat Dublin for the first time in more than 50 years and reached an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 1957. Cork produced their best win in more than a decade. Wicklow won the Tailteann Cup.
Advertisement
There were comebacks, shocks, great goals, extraordinary finishes and matches that remained alive until the final whistle.
The new structure worked and the new rules worked.
Only in the GAA then could we then have a proposal for some newer rules.
Among the most significant are a ban on fisted points unless the ball is in flight, a limit of three consecutive handpasses, a modified kick-out rule, a four-point goal and a backcourt rule preventing a team from playing the ball back across its own halfway line.
There are other proposals, too: increasing the number of substitutes from five to six, a 50-metre advancement where a mark is impeded, extending the 40-metre arc to the end-line and aligning advanced frees with the 13-metre line.
Individually, most of these ideas are perfectly reasonable. The fisted point has always felt like the football equivalent of taking the lift because you cannot be bothered with the stairs.
Handpassing can become a scourge. A four-point goal would make comebacks more plausible and leads less secure. A backcourt rule could force coaches to think differently.
Advertisement
There is nothing inherently foolish about any of this. And yet I find myself asking a rather awkward question.
Why?
Why are we changing a game which has just produced an extraordinary championship?
The Football Review Committee, chaired by Jim Gavin, produced a revolution. At the 2025 Special Congress, 62 motions and rule changes were passed.
Advertisement
Sixty-two.
That is not evolution.
That is revolution.
And we are still getting used to it.
Advertisement
Perhaps the most sensible thing the Expert Advisory Group could do now is recognise that there is a difference between improving a game and endlessly modifying it.
There is a point at which refinement becomes interference.
Look at the summer we have just had. Mayo against Kerry in the All-Ireland final. Down against Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup. Roscommon’s extraordinary late comeback against Galway in the Connacht final.
Dublin against Donegal. Dublin against Kerry. Dublin against Louth. Dublin against Westmeath.
Advertisement
Westmeath against Kildare. Westmeath against Meath. And that is before you mention Cork beating Donegal or Down beating Donegal.
It was a summer of shocks, a summer of compelling games and a summer in which teams had to adapt to the new rules and, eventually, supporters began to understand them.
So why immediately start changing them?
McStay has described the work of the Expert Advisory Group as “polishing” and “tweaking” the work of the Football Review Committee.
Advertisement
That is a perfectly reasonable description.
But there is another possibility.
They could decide not to polish or tweak anything.
They could decide that the best thing they can do for Gaelic football is leave it alone.
Advertisement
That would require more courage than it sounds.
Committees are not generally established so that their members can announce they have found nothing to do. There is a natural expectation that a committee will produce recommendations, otherwise somebody will eventually ask why the committee exists.
But sometimes doing nothing is the most consequential decision available.
The members of this group — McStay, David Coldrick, John Tobin, Conor McManus, Maurice Fitzgerald, Pat Doherty, Seamus Kenny and Johnny Bradley — are all serious football people.
Advertisement
They know the game. They care about it.
Which is precisely why I would trust them to say this: We have watched it. We have studied it. We have considered the evidence. And for now, we are changing nothing.
That would not be failure. It would be confidence.
Five years from now, perhaps the game will need another adjustment. Perhaps some of these proposed changes will prove essential. Perhaps handpassing will once again become a problem. Perhaps coaches will find ways around the new rules and another intervention will be necessary.
Advertisement
Fine.
Football evolves.
But it does not have to evolve every Tuesday because there is also a danger that constant tinkering begins to alienate the people who actually watch the game.
Supporters should not require a rulebook before they can understand what they are seeing.
Advertisement
The 2026 championship has provided something that Gaelic football desperately needed: evidence that the game can work.
Not theoretically.
Not in a committee report.
Not in a presentation.
Advertisement
In front of people.
At Croke Park and in provincial grounds across the country.
The game was alive.
The new rules survived the ultimate test.
Advertisement
They produced football worth watching.
So perhaps the boldest decision the Expert Advisory Group can make is not to change anything.
Leave the game alone.
Let coaches work it out.
Advertisement
Let players master it.
Let supporters get used to it.
And let us have the confidence to accept that, for once, the game is not broken.
Doing nothing, in this case, would actually be doing something.
Advertisement
It would be saying that Gaelic football has finally found a formula worth trusting.
And that might be the most important change of all.
Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live?Making us your preferred source on Googlemeans you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simplyclick here.
United have ushered in a new-look midfield, with Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba being added to the engine room. Experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow was also snapped up to be a veteran backup to Senne Lammens.
However, Carrick is yet to add new players in attacking positions. Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has been linked with several Premier League clubs this summer and has been tipped to head to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, United prospect Toby Collyer has sealed a move away from the club. Here, MirrorFootball looks at some of the biggest transfer stories surrounding Carrick’s side.
Former United star Louis Saha has argued that Galatasaray star Osimhen wants to join the club. The 27-year-old has been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during the transfer window, but Saha insists the Nigeria international would choose to sign for United.
“I know for a fact that Victor Osimhen is a Manchester United fan,” Saha told MrGamble. “He loves Man United. I have seen it in his eyes, the impact the club has on him, and he sees the impact he could have on this team.”
He continued: “‘Osimhen can be another player like Bruno Fernandes. He would quickly come to know the club inside and out. All United have to do is make the connection but that’s why it hasn’t happened yet. Osimhen is still waiting.
“United missed out on signing Harry Kane and that was one of their biggest mistakes in the transfer market but they can correct that mistake by signing Osimhen. I think Osimhen is a better fit for United now than Kane because of Benjamin Sesko. Osimhen can teach Sesko about movement and being a striker but they could also play together and combine better than Kane and Sesko could.”
Advertisement
Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.
This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.
Toby Collyer speaks out on Man Utd exit
Toby Collyer has completed a permanent move to West Bromwich Albion. The 22-year-old midfielder, who made 13 appearances for the Red Devils, has discussed his reasons for returning to West Brom permanently, having previously spent time on loan with the Championship club.
“There were a few reasons why I was so keen to return,” Collyer told West Brom’s club website. “The size of the club is one of them. I also really enjoyed my time here on loan in the first half of last season.
Advertisement
“Another reason was the manager, James Morrison. He was really keen to have me back and that’s all you want in football – a manager who wants you and wants to see you do well.
“As I say, I really enjoyed every second of my loan spell here last season even though I didn’t reach the levels that I wanted to reach. That’s another reason why I wanted to come back here, to show everyone what I’m about and prove to everyone how much of a great player I am.”
Join our MAN UTD WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read ourPrivacy Notice.
The U.S. military attacked Iranian rocket launchers positioned in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking its first offensive operation in a month, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.
Explosions were heard near Larak Island, which lies in the waterway, Iranian media outlets reported.
Iranian forces had been preparing to launch rockets carrying mines into the strait, the unnamed U.S. official said. The waterway, a vital trade route, has emerged as a major flash point in the war.
Tehran responded with missile strikes aimed at Jordan, a U.S. official told CNN.
Advertisement
The missiles have been intercepted so far, the official said.
The US military attacked Iranian rocket launchers positioned in the Strait of Hormuz on August 30, marking its first offensive operation in a month, a US official said (Getty Images)
In response to the new offensive, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a statement that the U.S. attack “will be answered by the sons of Iran and will result in the punishment of the aggressor,” Axios reported.
When reached for comment, a Pentagon spokesperson referred The Independent to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East.
The war, which began in February when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, had largely settled into a stalemate in recent weeks with no clear end in sight.
Advertisement
Speaking with Fox News on Sunday, President Trump defended the Iran campaign, arguing the U.S. was winning the war, even if a final, durable peace deal had not been inked.
“I don’t need a signature on a piece of paper,” Trump said.
He argued that Democratic critics of the war were trying to sabotage the operation.
President Trump insisted in an interview on Sunday that the U.S. was still winning the war, while claiming he didn’t need a ‘signature on a piece of paper’ to know American forces were victorious (Getty)
“They want our country to lose the war with Iran, which isn’t going to happen because we are absolutely winning easily,” Trump added.
The strait, which carried about 20 percent of the world’s oil before the conflict, has remained a central obstacle. The U.S. insists it must remain open to unrestricted shipping, while Iran says it has the right to manage traffic through the waterway.
Advertisement
Recently, the Trump administration signaled a shift toward imposing economic measures against Iran. Last week, the Treasury Department unveiled a multi-pronged campaign to “sever the economic lifelines that sustain the Iranian regime.”
“If we need to use kinetic strikes, we’ll use them,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday. “But economic pressure hurts them the most right now.”
Eighteen US service members have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the conflict, the Pentagon has said (AFP via Getty Images)
In recent months, the Trump administration has maintained that Iran’s military and leadership have been severely weakened.
“We’ve wiped them out militarily,” Trump said in an interview earlier this month. “The navy’s gone, the air force is gone, the leadership is gone.” He said the killings of Iranian leaders, which have come at the hands of U.S. and Israeli attacks, have also complicated diplomacy because “nobody knows who’s leading.”
Thousands of U.S. strikes have been carried out across the country, sometimes continuing night after night. In Iran, 3,375 people have died and more than 30,000 have been injured, according to the World Health Organization.
Advertisement
The conflict has also taken a significant toll on the United States.
Eighteen U.S. service members have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the conflict, the Pentagon has said.
“The oil is going to come down like a rocket going the opposite direction as soon as we win that war, complete the war,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday night.
Advertisement
“We have control of the Hormuz strait. … We’ve swept out all the mines. We don’t have mines there now,” the president claimed.
Multiple recent polls indicate the war is broadly unpopular in the U.S. In a Reuters survey last month, 69 percent of respondents said that Trump has not clearly explained the goals of the conflict.
Antigua and Barbuda has dropped its pledge of allegiance to the King – two months before he is due to visit the Caribbean country.
Charles will now use the trip at the end of October to urge the nation to stay in the Commonwealth, without having him as head of state.
The country’s decision adds pressure to the King and Queen Camilla‘s tour, announced last week, in which they will also visit the Bahamas and Guyana. They will use their trip to discuss the legacy of slavery and payment of reparations.
Ministers and new officials will swear loyalty to the state of Antigua and Barbuda. Its attorney general Sir Steadroy Benjamin said dropping the oath of loyalty was overdue.
Advertisement
‘We will once and for all finally not be swearing to His Majesty in England, his heirs and successors in England,’ he said.
Withdrawal of the King’s name from the process of swearing in governments is a step towards removing the Royal Family from the affairs of the nation.
In 1981, Antigua and Barbuda declared independence from British rule but remained part of the Commonwealth, retaining the Queen as head of state.
However, led by republican prime minister Gaston Browne, the government has voted to remove the pledge to the British monarch. If it were to remove the British Crown entirely, the matter could be put to a public vote.
Advertisement
Antigua and Barbuda has dropped its pledge of allegiance to the King – two months before he is due to visit the Caribbean country (the King pictured in Bermuda in May)
But it is unclear which way a referendum would go, with some arguing support for republicanism is not as strong as the government claims.
During his trip, the King, who was seen yesterday with Camilla attending church at Balmoral, will discuss ‘de-realming’, in which countries stay in the Commonwealth without him as head of state.
Police were called to the scene in the early hours of Sunday morning after a woman was attacked with a knife
Matt Jackson Live News Network Reporter and Rebecca Robinson
16:58, 30 Aug 2026Updated 17:22, 30 Aug 2026
A 31-year-old British woman has tragically died following a stabbing at a railway station in Rosenheim, Germany. Officers responded in the early hours of Sunday morning after receiving reports of a woman being assaulted with a blade and sustaining critical injuries.
The victim was transported to hospital, where she subsequently died, while the suspected attacker, a 27-year-old German man, was arrested at the scene.
Police have requested that anyone who observed “an argument” or a “physical altercation” at the station just before 1am local time on Sunday get in touch with them.
The force refused to disclose whether the individuals were acquainted or if there was any link to the Rosenheim Autumn Festival, according to The Telegraph, which is similar Oktoberfest and attracts more than a million attendees throughout its 16-day duration.
Rosenheim, amongst the major cities in Upper Bavaria, serves as a significant transport junction for travellers heading to Austrian destinations, including Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck.
Ensure our latest stories always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
Luke Charters, the Labour MP for York Outer, has been calling for tougher oversight of the industry and welcomed plans to introduce new regulations aimed at curbing misconduct.
He says the Government’s plans would now require all private bailiffs operating in England and Wales to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board or be employed by an accredited firm in order to obtain or renew their certification.
The plans also include the introduction of an independent complaints process for individuals facing enforcement action.
The Press reported on the member of parliament securing a Westminster Hall debate with the parliamentary under-secretary at the Ministry of Justice in February 2025.
The York Outer MP called for stronger oversight of the industry by introducing his Regulation of Bailiffs (Assessment and Report) Bill in May 2025.
Luke Charters said: “I’m chuffed that, after two years of campaigning, the Government is taking action to change the law and make proper oversight of bailiffs compulsory.
Advertisement
“The people who shared their experiences with me have helped make this happen.”
Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo is opening up about the vitriol he faced after coming out as gay this past May.
Speaking on The Break Down with Nath & Johnny podcast, he said he was he was subjected to ‘homophobia’ earlier this year, after revealing his sexual orientation and later divorcing his wife of 14 years.
‘I had already decided, like, I’m not gonna water myself down at all. I’m going to just do what I wanna do. I’m gonna wear what I wanna wear. I’m gonna sing how I wanna sing,’ Caleb, 33, recalled.
He emphasized, ‘I’m gonna look how I wanna look and just enjoy being an artist that’s allowed to do that, and that has the freedom to do that.’ However, he added, ‘That was met with a lot of opposition and a lot of… I mean, really, just a lot of homophobia, and a lot of people who really were not okay with me presenting that way at all, with what I was doing, any of it.’
Advertisement
The rock musician took to Instagram earlier this year and opened up about his sexuality amid ‘a lot of speculation surrounding [his] personal life’ – revealing he is a ‘proudly gay man.’
In July, he and wife Fleur Shomo (née Terry) jointly filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court. The exes, who married in 2012, do not share any children.
Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo is opening up about the homophobia he faced after coming out as gay this past May
Advertisement
In July, he and wife Fleur Shomo (née Terry) jointly filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court
Shortly after Caleb came out, Fleur expressed support for him while also acknowledging the ‘disorientating and hurtful’ split.
Amid the adverse reaction to his sexuality, the singer said he was ‘going through so much’ and subsequently chose to ‘get off the internet for a while.’
While his band performed on Bad Omen’s Do You Feel Love? tour, he noted that he needed to be on point during each performance, but it was ‘tough.’
Advertisement
‘I mean, a lot of the day I’d be spent in a really, really bad place and just trying to find enough energy and enough will to get myself warmed up and get on that stage and do my f**king job,’ he shared.
Caleb said he is still met with homophobia.
‘It didn’t really change as we kept releasing more songs, and the very vocal opposition continued and still continues to,’ he told listeners.
‘And, yeah, me coming out didn’t help that. And just being honest with people about who I am and what’s been going on.’
Advertisement
The music artist said that as he prepares his next project, there is ‘a lot that I need to say’ and ‘work through.’
Caleb and Fleur were married 14 years before filing for divorce two months after he came out as gay
Caleb is the lead vocalist of Beartooth, which he founded in 2012; pictured in July 2014 from left to right: bassist Oshie Bichar, drummer Brandon Mullins, guitarist Taylor Lumley, Caleb, guitarist Kamron Bradbury
Advertisement
Caleb penned a lengthy message to his 213,000 Instagram followers in the spring, addressing ‘something I’ve been unpacking and reckoning with in my life for quite some time now.’
‘I feel compelled to set the record straight before it affects those I love any further,’ he wrote. ‘I am a proudly gay man.’
He then admitted it has been ‘difficult’ for him ‘to navigate the feelings surrounding the subject and figure out what to do with this fact.’
In his statement, he explained that he ‘always’ put ‘the deepest part of my soul’ in his art and music.
Advertisement
Then, he reflected on four ‘very self-deprecating [Beartooth] albums’ that he created before coming out.
Caleb noted his past music explored ‘his religious upbringing, depression, self hatred, self loathing, and hopelessness.’
He said he ‘will express [himself] whole heartedly and fully’ in the music from his upcoming album.
“Not only did you brighten up our grey Manchester sky, you certainly brightened up the day for many of our children”
Red Arrows delight children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with flypast
The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital have paid a special tribute to the Red Arrows after a spectacular display.
The world-famous aerobatics display team of the RAF will be taking part in the Southport Airshow this weekend. On the return journey to RAF Warrington on Sunday, the team will fly directly over Greater Manchester, with a special flypast over the hospital.
The route saw the team fly over Lymm, onto Altrincham and then directly over the city centre, before heading out into Tameside and Oldham. From there, the team flew back to their base at RAF Waddington, in Lincolnshire.
Advertisement
Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter
Earlier this week, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust announced that the Red Arrows would be doing the flypast to ‘support them and create a memorable moment’ for the children receiving care at the Children’s Hospital.
In a post, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re excited to share that this bank holiday weekend we’re in for a real treat – and we want you to enjoy it with us…
“The world-famous RAF Red Arrows will be carrying out a flypast over Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital this Sunday at around 5.15pm – subject to weather and other operational factors on the day.
Advertisement
“The flypast will form part of the team’s existing, planned transit back to their Lincolnshire home base, having displayed earlier at the Southport Airshow.
“We’re delighted that they’ve chosen to support us and help create a memorable moment for all the children receiving care with us in hospital, their families, and the dedicated staff who support them every day.”
Red Arrows delight children at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital with flypast
Sharing a video on X, the Trust captured the delight of children and staff as the impressive team flew over with the red, white and blue smoke trials.
Posting on the social media site, the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust wrote: “Thanks so much @rafredarrows for the fly past today. Not only did you brighten up our grey Manchester sky, you certainly brightened up the day for many of our children, their families and staff who got the best view on the roof. Thanks for supporting us.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login