Sabrina Carpenter hints at her breakup with Barry Keoghan through new single "Manchild," released June 8, 2025.
Sabrina Carpenter’s latest release, “Manchild,” has sparked renewed interest in the Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter breakup details. The song, announced by Carpenter on June 3, 2025, arrives months after her reported December 2024 split from the Irish actor, as confirmed by People magazine, and its lyrics, paired with her own social media hints, have led fans to connect the track to their brief but public relationship.
History Behind the Breakup and Musical Inspirations
The duo’s breakup in December came without a direct public statement from either side, but sources cited their packed professional lives as the main reason for the split. Carpenter’s fans, known as Carpenters, picked up on clues in her music that seemed to point toward Keoghan. In 2024, the song“Please Please Please” referenced wanting her actor partner—understood to be Keoghan—to “act like a stand-up guy.” Keoghan appeared in the music video as a tough prisoner who falls for Carpenter’s character, confirming speculation that the track drew inspiration from their relationship.
Carpenter, 26, discussed casting Keoghan for the project:
“I was like, ‘Who’s the greatest actor that I can find for this music video?’ And he was next to me in a chair,”
—Sabrina Carpenter, Artist. She added,
“And he was so excited about it.”
—Sabrina Carpenter, Artist.
Different Perspectives on the Breakup
Despite much speculation from fans, both Carpenter and Keoghan have stayed largely silent about the precise reasons behind their breakup. An insider shared with People magazine,
Image of: Barry Keoghan
“They are both young and career-focused, so they’ve decided to take a break,”
—Insider, Source. Speculation persists, however, due to the pointed nature of Carpenter’s lyrics, with fans convinced Keoghan, 32, may not have lived up to the standards she set out in her songs.
Barry Keoghan’s Response and Social Media Exit
Keoghan has distanced himself from the public discussion surrounding the end of the relationship, choosing to deactivate his social media accounts soon after the breakup. He explained the pressure he felt from online rumors and fan behavior, especially when it crossed into his personal life. In a May interview with Hollywood Authentic, Keoghan said,
“There was just so much on social media that wasn’t real.”
—Barry Keoghan, Actor. The decision was partly prompted by concerns for his family’s safety, including his son Brando, whom he shares with his former partner Alyson Sandro.
Keoghan Opens Up About Personal Struggles
In the same Hollywood Authentic interview, Keoghan tackled his struggle with addiction, shedding light on a part of his life seldom discussed in the wake of the breakup. Reflecting on the loss of his mother to addiction at age 12, Keoghan revealed,
“I’m not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict,”
—Barry Keoghan, Actor, and admitted,
“You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it.”
—Barry Keoghan, Actor.
Carpenter Shares Her Own Heartbreak Journey
While Carpenter’s songs have drawn attention for the way they seem to reflect her split with Keoghan, she has also spoken about heartbreak in broader terms. In a March 2025 Vogue feature, she detailed the emotional impact of a previous relationship, saying,
“biggest heartbreak to date. My first real one. I hate to say that,”
—Sabrina Carpenter, Artist. She added,
“It definitely makes all my exes before that feel like shit. I don’t mean to do that. I just think in a sense of really understanding the grieving-someone-that’s-alive feeling. I never felt that until this one.”
—Sabrina Carpenter, Artist.
Post-Breakup Public Appearances and Fan Reactions
Both Carpenter and Keoghan attended the high-profile 2025 Met Gala, though no reports indicated they interacted at the event. While the couple have not shared more about their December split, fans remain focused on Carpenter’s evolving music and career status, eager to see what themes she’ll explore in her next era.
“Manchild” Marks New Beginnings for Carpenter
“Manchild” is Carpenter’s first new song since she released the expanded version of Short n’ Sweet in February 2025. The song’s announcement included a playful B-side described as
“inside of your head when you’ve just won an argument with a man.”
—Unattributed. As anticipation builds for her Lollapalooza headlining set, the pop star’s latest single has intensified curiosity around the Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter breakup details, giving fans a fresh lens on their relationship’s aftermath and Carpenter’s ongoing artistic growth.
