Barry Keoghan Opens Up on the Devastating Impact of Online Abuse
Acclaimed Irish actor Barry Keoghan has revealed the profound and damaging effect that persistent online abuse regarding his appearance has had on his life. The 33-year-old, who is slated to portray Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’s ambitious four-film Beatles biopic, shared in a candid interview with SiriusXM host Ben Harlum that the relentless negativity has led him to withdraw, question his public presence, and even doubt his future in acting.
Keoghan admitted that the constant barrage of criticism about his looks has moved beyond the realm of typical public scrutiny. “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 confessed. This has resulted in a significant personal retreat. “It’s made me go inside myself and not want to attend places. Not want to go outside.”
While he attempts to distance himself from online platforms, human curiosity remains. “I think I remove myself from online, but I’m still a curious human being that wants to go on,” he explained. “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.” The actor highlighted the paradox of his situation: “I don’t have to hide away because I am hiding away. I don’t have to go to places because I actually don’t go to places because of these things.”
The concern escalates when this negativity begins to infiltrate his professional life. “But when that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem because then you don’t even want to be on screen anymore,” Keoghan stated. The star, known for his captivating performances in films like Saltburn, emphasised that the impact of this online bullying is a growing concern.
Protecting His Family from Online Scrutiny
Beyond the personal toll, Keoghan expressed deep worry about how the vitriol directed at him could affect his young son, Brando, who is three years old and whom he shares with his ex-partner, Alyson Sandro. He fears for his son’s future exposure to these harmful comments. “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,” he added.
Past Encounters with Online Hate
This is not the first time the Banshees of Inisherin star has addressed the online hate he has endured. In December 2024, following criticism surrounding his public split from singer Sabrina Carpenter, Keoghan took to X (formerly Twitter) to implore for greater respect.
At the time, he wrote, “I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don’t respond too. I have to respond now because it’s getting to a place where there are too many lines being crossed.” The actor detailed the extreme measures he took to protect himself and his family. “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.”
Upcoming Projects and the Beatles Biopic
Keoghan is currently making waves on Netflix in the newly released Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, where he plays Erasmus “Duke” Shelby, the son of Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby. His acting career continues to flourish with his involvement in Sam Mendes’s highly anticipated “The Beatles: A Four-Film Cinematic Event.” In this monumental project, Keoghan will embody Ringo Starr, starring alongside a talented ensemble cast. Harris Dickinson, Paul Mescal, and Joseph Quinn are set to portray John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, respectively, promising a deep dive into the iconic band’s history.
