Los Angeles, April 28, 2026, 15:09 (PDT)
Barry Keoghan says online rumors that he cheated on Sabrina Carpenter pushed him out of the public eye—a story he’s now flatly disputing. On a new podcast, the Irish actor described the claims as false and talked about the personal fallout. After speculation swirled following his and Carpenter’s late-2024 breakup, Keoghan said he pulled back from Instagram and stopped going to events or social gatherings.
Keoghan’s remarks hit differently this time—they’re his most direct reaction yet to a rumor mill that refused to slow down post-breakup. According to Entertainment Weekly, the April 28 episode of “Friends Keep Secrets”—with Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco steering the conversation—saw Keoghan publicly address both cheating rumors and the wave of online harassment. Ew
Celebrity rumors can rocket from TikTok to headlines almost instantly. Influencer Breckie Hill, The Cut noted, shared videos linking herself to the gossip, but later backpedaled—she claimed she never met Keoghan and only reposted because she found the story ridiculous.
“I came off Instagram and social profiles,” Keoghan told the podcast, per BuzzFeed. He also stopped attending events or socializing. There was a public story “that was not true,” he said, and he hadn’t addressed it or given his side before stepping away. BuzzFeed
Asked by Lil Dicky if people were saying he cheated, Keoghan confirmed, “Yeah, that I cheated,” according to Cosmopolitan. He explained he didn’t want to involve anyone else in the controversy or intensify things further. Cosmopolitan
After close to a year together, Keoghan and Carpenter called it quits in December 2024, according to The Independent. They hadn’t shied away from being seen as a couple in public, and Keoghan even featured in Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” music video. Their breakup later sparked a wave of online scrutiny. The Independent
Keoghan already felt the heat, which led him to clarify his decision to quit Instagram. InStyle pointed to a post from December 2024 where he said, “I can only sit and take so much,” and explained he wanted to keep the negativity from pulling focus away from his family and his work. InStyle
Hill pushed back on the main accusation, too. In a TikTok video highlighted by The Independent this year, she insisted she had “never even encountered this man” and added she’d have no interest in “homewreck[ing]” a relationship. The Independent
Apple Podcasts lists “Friends Keep Secrets” as a newer video-podcast where celebrities drop by Dave Burd and Kristin Batalucco’s place in Los Angeles for off-the-cuff chats. That casual setup offered Keoghan a less rigid space than the standard interview circuit, but his comments still came across as a clear public denial. Apple Podcasts
Still, the interview might not put things to rest. Carpenter hasn’t commented on the allegations so far, and issuing a denial could easily bring those posts and clips roaring back. As for Keoghan, trying to wrap things up could just push the story around online yet again.
Keoghan didn’t focus on salvaging his reputation; instead, he urged people to hold off on the accusations until there’s evidence. As reported by Us Weekly, he made it clear he wasn’t seeking new fans, just asking that people stop jumping to conclusions and targeting him because of the storyline.
