Barry Keoghan Reveals Online Abuse Has Forced Him to Withdraw from Public Life and Acting
Acclaimed actor Barry Keoghan has made a startling confession, revealing that pervasive online hatred and cruel commentary about his physical appearance have compelled him to retreat from his acting career and public engagements. The thirty-three-year-old star, known for his roles in Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin, opened up about this deeply personal struggle during a recent radio interview, highlighting the severe emotional toll of cyberbullying.
"It's Made Me Shy Away": Keoghan's Candid Admission on Radio Show
During an appearance on SiriusXM's The Morning Mash Up radio show, Keoghan spoke with raw honesty about the barrage of abuse he endures. "There's a lot of abuse of how I look, and it's kind of past the point of 'everyone goes through that' and everyone does, but it's made me shy away," he admitted. The actor explained that this constant negativity has caused him to become introverted and avoid social situations entirely. "It's made me go inside myself and not want to attend places. Not want to go outside," he added, describing a self-imposed isolation.
Keoghan further elaborated on the psychological conflict he faces, noting his natural human curiosity clashes with the desire to protect himself. "I think I remove myself from online, but I'm still a curious human being that wants to go on. If I attend an event or if I go somewhere, you want to see how it was received. It's not nice, you know, there's a lot of hate online," he stated. This toxic environment has begun to infiltrate his professional life, creating a significant barrier to his artistry.
Online Bullying Infiltrates Art and Family Life
The situation has escalated to a point where it directly threatens Keoghan's passion for performing. "But when that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem because then you don't even want to be on screen anymore," he confessed, indicating that the online vitriol is eroding his confidence and desire to act. Perhaps most poignantly, Keoghan expressed profound concern for his three-year-old son, Brando, whom he shares with ex-partner Alyson Sandro. He worries about the long-term impact this digital trail of hatred will have on his child.
"It's disappointing to the fans, but it's also disappointing that my little boy has to read all of this stuff when he gets older," the actor said, his voice laden with emotion. This paternal anxiety adds a deeply personal dimension to the abuse, transforming it from a professional hazard into a familial threat.
A History of Confronting Online Harassment
This is not the first time Barry Keoghan has publicly addressed the torrent of online abuse directed at him. In December 2024, following criticism surrounding his split from singer Sabrina Carpenter, he took to social media platform X to issue a heartfelt plea for respect. "I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don't respond to," he wrote at the time, explaining his decision to deactivate his account.
In that post, he detailed the horrifying nature of the messages he received: "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." Keoghan also revealed that the harassment had crossed into the real world, with individuals knocking on his grandmother's door and loitering outside his son's home—actions he condemned as clear boundary violations.
His final message was a powerful appeal focused on his role as a father: "Each and every day I work hard to push myself on every level to be the healthiest and strongest person for that boy... I need you to remember he has to read ALL of this about his father when he is older." This ongoing battle against cyberbullying underscores the severe and lasting consequences online hatred can have on mental health, career aspirations, and family well-being.
