Barry Keoghan Opens Up About Online Abuse and Its Impact on His Career

Oscar-nominated actor Barry Keoghan has revealed that online abuse directed at his appearance is significantly affecting his life, to the point where he is hesitant to appear in public. The Irish actor, currently portraying Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles project, shared his struggles with SiriusXM host Ben Harlum, explaining that despite leaving social media in 2024 due to the abuse, it continues to impact him.

Hesitancy to Engage Publicly

Keoghan expressed feeling “shy” and withdrawing from public life, stating, “There’s a lot of hate online. There’s a lot of abuse of how I look, and it’s kind of past the point of: ‘Everyone goes through that.’…It’s made me shy away. It’s made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside.” He admitted that the abuse is now “becoming a problem,” leading him to actively avoid public appearances.

Impact on His Art

The actor voiced concern that the online negativity could ultimately affect his work, explaining, “I actually don’t go to places because of these things…But when that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem, because then you don’t want to even be on screen any more.”

Past Experiences with Harassment

Keoghan previously addressed harassment in 2024, revealing instances of people targeting his family after his breakup with pop star Sabrina Carpenter, including showing up at his grandmother’s home and intimidating his young son.

The Beatles Project and Current Work

Despite these challenges, Keoghan is currently filming his role as Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, alongside Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. The project, produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Neal Street Productions, and Apple Corps, is slated for release on April 7, 2028. [1] He recently completed work on Netflix’s Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. [2]

Filming in Liverpool

Keoghan described the experience of filming in Liverpool, the Beatles’ hometown, as “emotional,” noting the welcoming atmosphere and a sense of connection to the band’s history. [2] He has also expressed admiration for the work of cinematographer Greig Fraser, who is also working on the project. [2]

Keoghan acknowledged that stepping away from acting would be disappointing for his fans, but also expressed concern about the impact of the abuse on his three-year-classic son, Brando.