‘Don’t even want to be on screen anymore’: Barry Keoghan reveals a heartbreaking reality that haunts him everyday

Actor Barry Keoghan recently opened up about the intense online criticism he faces regarding his appearance, admitting it’s made him so self-conscious that he sometimes doesn’t even want to be on screen anymore. Keoghan, 33, shared these heartbreaking details during an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up.

Keoghan explained that while he’s grateful for his “incredible fanbase” and the many “lovely” people who support him, there’s also a deeply “nasty side” to online interactions. This abuse, specifically targeting his looks, has taken a significant toll on him personally and professionally.

According to People Magazine, he’s even worried about the future impact on his family. Keoghan, who shares 3-year-old son Brando with former girlfriend Alyson Sandro, expressed his disappointment that his “little boy has to read all of this stuff when he gets older.” It’s a genuine concern for any parent.

I can’t even imagine how bad it must be if he is addressing it

The actor, currently busy shooting The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, where he’s playing Ringo Starr, revealed he’s heavily “removed” himself from online spaces, but admits he’s still a “curious human being” who sometimes can’t help but look. When he attends an event or goes somewhere, he wants to see how it was received, and often, what he finds isn’t pleasant.

This constant scrutiny has pushed him further inward. Keoghan stated that it’s “made me shy away, it’s made me really go inside myself and not want to attend places, not want to go outside.” He was absolutely pure and honest about it, calling it a “problem” and confirming, “I actually don’t go to places because of these things.” 

Barry was in a very high-profile relationship with Sabrina Carpenter in 2024. Unfortunately, by all reports, the relationship ended badly. While the celebrities themselves seem to have taken it in stride, Carpenters fans turned ugly fast. They tore into his looks and even went after his son. It is sad to see that what started then is still lingering in the ugly spaces of the internet.

Perhaps the most concerning impact is how this negativity is seeping into his work. Keoghan explained that when the criticism “starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem, because then you don’t even want to be on screen anymore.”