• The actor asked fans to be “respectful” after receiving abuse this week
  • Keoghan has deactivated his Instagram account
  • Rumours circulated that he had cheated on Sabrina Carpenter
Barry Keoghan
Barry Keoghan Credit: Captive Camera

Barry Keoghan has spoken out over “disgusting” harassment from fans online over rumours relating to how he split with Sabrina Carpenter.

People reported earlier this week that Keoghan and Carpenter had split up citing a source that said, “they are both young and career-focused, so they’ve decided to take a break”.

This led to speculation that Keoghan had been unfaithful, but another report from People cited a source denying that infidelity was behind their break-up.

“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”.

“I can only sit and take so much”

Keoghan later deactivated his Instagram account and released a statement on X/Twitter calling for the harassment to stop.

“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.

He continued: “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. 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. That’s crossing a line.”

“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.”

The actor concluded: “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.”

How have the fans reacted?

Many fans shared posts in solidarity with Keoghan, condemning the abuse he has received.

“if you’re gen acting like him allegedly cheating is anywhere near as bad as random people showing up to taunt his family in real life, please stop & think like a real human being… the man is defending his kid here. some are way too invested in someone else’s relationship,” said one fan on X/Twitter.

Another added: “If you are knocking and sitting outside someone’s door to intimidate him over a relationship that’s not yours and none of the involved knows you then you are actually stupid and need psychological help.”

A third said: “I mean with full sincerity when I say that stan-brained people are literal losers with nothing interesting going on in their actual lives, so they live vicariously through outside celebrity drama to fill that void. The internet is unironically rotting brains to mush.”

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Emma Wilkes
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