Barry Keoghan has called for people to be “respectful” after receiving messages of “hatred” and “disgusting commentary” from members of the public.
The Saltburn and The Banshees Of Inisherin star has been at the centre of unwanted attention this week after reports emerged that he and Sabrina Carpenter had broken up.
People reported on Tuesday (December 3) that the couple were deciding to separate, citing a source that said, “they are both young and career-focused, so they’ve decided to take a break”.
Since then, unsubstantiated speculation has circulated online that the breakup was the result of infidelity from the actor, but neither Keoghan nor Carpenter have addressed those rumours.
Another report from People cited a source close to the former couple denying that infidelity was a factor in their decision. “He was always very faithful to her from the start, there was no third party involved in their break or at any other point in their relationship,” the source said. “Reports indicating otherwise are entirely fabricated”.
Now, Keoghan has spoken out about the harassment he has suffered in recent days in a passionate social media post.
“I can only sit and take so much,” he wrote. “My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don’t respond to. I have to respond now because it’s gettin to a place where there are too many lines being crossed.”
Please be respectful
x pic.twitter.com/N03eHAIbC8— Barry Keoghan (@BarryKeoghan) December 7, 2024
Explaining why he recently deactivated his Instagram account, he said “I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work. The messages I have received no person should ever have to read them. Absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine.”
“Dragging my character and everything I worked extremely hard for and stand for,” he added. “Talking about how I was a heroine baby and how I grew up and dragging my dear mother into it also. Knocking at my grannies door. Sitting outside my baby boys house intimidating them. Thats crossing a line.”
The 32-year-old Oscar nominee has a two-year-old son with a former partner and has spoken recently about his challenging childhood, which saw him grow up in foster care. His mother died when he was 12 after struggling with drug addiction.
He spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast about being accused of being an absent father, which he denies entirely, explaining that the reason he does not post about his son on social media is “because I don’t think it’s fair to put my child online”.
In the new post, Keoghan continued: “Each and every day I work harder to push myself on every level to be the healthiest and strongest person for that boy. I want to provide opportunities for him to learn, fail and grow. I want him to be able to look up to his daddy, to have full trust in me and know I will have his back no matter what.”
“I need you to remember he has to read ALL of this about his father when he is older. Please be respectful to all. Thank u x.”
Carpenter and Keoghan began dating in 2023.
The ‘Espresso’ singer starred in her own holiday special on Netflix this week, A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter, which included her being joined by Chappell Roan for a cover of Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’.
Keoghan, meanwhile, is rumoured to be playing Ringo Starr in the upcoming Sam Mendes biopics about The Beatles.
The post Barry Keoghan on “disgusting” recent fan harassment: “I can only sit and take so much” appeared first on NME.
