Barry Keoghan has spoken out against the 'disgusting' cheating accusations that have followed him since his split from Sabrina Carpenter, begging the public to stop the relentless attacks. The 33-year-old Irish actor, who dated the 26-year-old singer for a year after appearing in her music video for 'Please Please Please,' has been subjected to intense online scrutiny and even death threats from fans.
Impact of the Allegations
Nearly 18 months after their breakup, the 'Saltburn' star detailed the profound impact of the cheating rumors during an appearance on the 'Friends Keep Secrets' podcast hosted by Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco. He revealed that he had quit social media and stopped attending events due to the onslaught of negativity. 'I came off Instagram and social profiles. I've stopped going to events. I've stopped socialising,' Keoghan said, explaining that a false narrative was being spread without any confirmation from him. 'It's because, you know, there was a narrative out there that was never really sort of even spoken on, a narrative that's not true, and I never confirmed or said anything about it. I just disappeared.'
The narrative in question was the cheating allegation, which Keoghan confirmed but never directly mentioned Carpenter's name. He acknowledged that 'having a relationship in the public eye' can be challenging before addressing the unfaithfulness rumors specifically. These claims had intensified after TikTok influencer Breckie Hill reposted videos suggesting Keoghan had cheated with her. Although Hill later clarified that she 'did not get with Barry' and had never met him, Keoghan noted that her retractions were largely ignored by his accusers.
Plea for Respect
Keoghan emphasized that he was not demanding people become his fans but asked them to 'stop assuming and also stop jumping on this narrative and attacking me and dragging me down in any way you can.' He described the involvement of his late parents in the conversation as 'absolutely disgusting and vile,' referencing TikTok videos that expressed hatred toward him. 'There's videos on TikTok literally going, 'I hate him,'' he added.
In the interview, Keoghan clarified that he was not seeking a 'pity card' but expressed confusion over why people online wanted to 'beat someone' like him. He and Carpenter were first linked romantically in December 2023 after a dinner date in Los Angeles and later attended the Met Gala together, with Keoghan supporting her at Coachella. However, by the following year, reports emerged that they had ended their relationship. Shortly after, Keoghan deactivated his Instagram and issued a statement slamming trolls on X, saying, 'I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don't respond to. I have to respond now because it's getting to a place where there are too many lines being crossed.' He condemned the 'absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine' and begged people to 'be respectful' after some had 'crossed a line' by dragging his mother into it.
Ongoing Struggles
Earlier this year, Keoghan discussed facing a 'lot of hate online' and 'a lot of abuse of how I look' during an appearance on SiriusXM's 'The Morning Mash Up.' While acknowledging his 'incredible fanbase' and that 'people are so lovely out there,' he also noted a 'nasty side' he had experienced. He expressed disappointment that his 3-year-old son Brando, whose mother is Keoghan's former girlfriend Alyson Sandro, would eventually have to read such comments. Keoghan shared that he has now 'removed' himself from online platforms but has become anxious about going outside due to the ongoing hate. 'It's made me shy away, it's made me really go inside myself and not want to attend places, not want to go outside,' he said, adding that it 'was becoming a problem' and that he 'actually don't go to places because of these things.' The actor admitted that the situation has affected his ability to act, making him feel like he 'didn't want to be on screen anymore.'
