Barry Keoghan wants people to be “respectful” to him and his family amid the backlash of his alleged breakup with on-and-off-again girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the actor and Carpenter had split after one year of dating, prompting speculation that the Saltburn star had an affair. But on Saturday (Dec. 7), Keoghan attempted to clear his name with a statement, also calling for trolls to stop harassing his family, which includes his 2-year-old son, Brando.
“I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don’t respond to,” the Irish actor wrote. “I have to respond now because it’s getting to a place where there are too many lines being crossed. I deactivated my account because 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 continued. “Talking about how I was a heroine baby and how I grew up and dragging my dear mother into it also. Knocking on my grannie’s door. Sitting outside my baby boy’s house intimidating them. That’s crossing a line.”
He concluded, “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.”
During their relationship, Keoghan appeared as the interest in Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” music video and also supported the 6-time Grammy nominee during her Coachella performance.
While Carpenter hasn’t responded to news of the breakup, on Friday (Dec. 6), her holiday special, A Nonsense Christmaspremiered on Netflix.
