Key Points
- The actor retreated from social media and avoided public events after harsh online criticism.
- Online abuse has begun affecting his on-screen confidence and willingness to perform.
- He fears his young son may one day read hurtful comments, intensifying his distress.
Why They're In The News
BARRY Keoghan is opening up about the emotional toll of online criticism following his breakup with Sabrina Carpenter.
In a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s “The Morning Mash Up,” the Saltburn actor shared that harsh comments about his appearance led him to step back from social media and avoid public events.
Keoghan said the negativity became overwhelming, explaining that while he tried to remove himself from the internet, the abuse still affected him.
He admitted that the backlash has made him reluctant to be seen in public and has even started to impact how he feels about his work on screen.
“There’s a lot of hate online. It’s a lot of abuse of how I looK,” he said.
“I think I removed myself from online, but I’m still a curious human being that wants to go on and, if I attend an event or if I go somewhere, you want to see how it was received. And it’s not nice.”
The actor also spoke about being a father and said one of his biggest concerns is that his young son may one day see the hurtful things written about him online.
“It’s becoming a problem. I don’t have to hide away because I am hiding away. I don’t have to go to places because I actually don’t go to places because of these things,” he said.
“But when that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem because then you don’t even want to be on screen anymore.
“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.”
Keoghan and Carpenter ended their relationship in December 2024 after dating for about a year.
During that time, he also appeared in her “Please Please Please” music video. Since the split, Keoghan says the online response has been difficult to navigate.
His comments highlight the darker side of fame and the real impact internet culture can have on stars behind the scenes.
Why This Matters
Keoghan's experience underscores how online harassment can silence public figures, damage mental health and creative output, and threaten children's wellbeing—highlighting social media's real-world consequences and the need for greater accountability and support.
