Barry Keoghan Steps Back From Public Life Amid Online Abuse

Barry Keoghan is revealing he has been avoiding public appearances and reconsidering his career path due to a surge of online hate and abuse, particularly following his split from singer Sabrina Carpenter. The actor shared his experiences on SiriusXM’s “The Morning Mash Up” on Friday, March 20, 2026, detailing the impact the negativity has had on his personal life and artistic endeavors.

The Weight of Online Criticism

Keoghan explained that much of the abuse is directed towards his physical appearance. “There’s a lot of hate online. It’s a lot of abuse of how I look,” he said. Even as acknowledging that some level of criticism comes with fame, he noted that the current situation has become deeply troubling. “It’s made me shy away,” he admitted, adding that he finds himself “really go[ing] inside myself, not want[ing] to attend places, not want[ing] to go outside.”

Impact on Career and Art

The “Saltburn” star expressed concern that the online harassment is beginning to affect his operate. “But when that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem, due to the fact that then you don’t wanna be on screen anymore,” Keoghan stated. He confessed to actively avoiding public events, not out of necessity, but because he genuinely doesn’t want to attend them due to the potential for negative reactions.

Concerns for His Son

Keoghan, who has a three-year-old son, Brando, with his ex-girlfriend Alyson Sandro, is also worried about the long-term effects of this online negativity. “It is disappointing for the fans, but it’s also disappointing that my little boy has to read all of this stuff when he gets older,” he said.

The Breakup and Its Aftermath

The online backlash intensified after Keoghan and Carpenter ended their year-long relationship in December 2024. Fans of Carpenter reportedly turned their criticism towards Keoghan following the split. At the time of the breakup, sources told People magazine that the pair “decided to take a break” due to being “both young and career-focused.”

Finding Positivity Amidst the Negativity

Despite the challenges, Keoghan acknowledged the positive aspects of his career, and fanbase. “I’ve been blessed that I have an incredible fanbase and people are so lovely out there,” he reflected. “And it’s really nice when you do Q&A’s and you talk to people and you can be there with them and answer their questions and just offer them all of you.”

Future Projects

Keoghan remains actively engaged in his career, recently starring in the Netflix film “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man” and is slated to portray Ringo Starr in an upcoming biopic directed by Sam Mendes. Despite the online hate, he continues to pursue his passion for acting.