Barry Keoghan has said that online abuse about his appearance is now 'becoming a problem', admitting in a recent interview that the comments have affected his confidence and even changed how often he goes out in public.
Speaking on SiriusXM, the Oscar-nominated actor described the impact of constant scrutiny, saying the criticism has made him withdraw from everyday life.
The remarks follow years of growing attention around Keoghan's career, particularly after a series of high-profile roles and a past relationship with musician Sabrina Carpenter. While he acknowledged that much of the attention has been positive, he made clear that the darker side of fame has been harder to ignore.
During the interview, Keoghan said he tries to distance himself from negativity by avoiding social media, but finds it difficult to fully disconnect. 'I'm still a curious being that wants to go on – if I attend an event or if I go somewhere – to see how it was received,' he said. 'And it's not nice, you know?'
He added that 'there's a lot of hate online, a lot of abuse of how I look', noting that it has gone beyond what people might dismiss as typical online criticism.
Online Hate 'Becoming A Problem'
Keoghan did not soften his words when describing how deeply the comments had affected him. 'It's made me shy away. It's made me really go inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside,' he said. He stressed that he was speaking honestly, adding: 'it's becoming a problem.'
His concern goes beyond personal discomfort. The actor explained that the impact has begun to affect his work, something he clearly finds troubling.
'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 said.
There is a noticeable tension in how he describes the situation. On one hand, he recognises the support he receives. On the other hand, the negativity appears persistent enough to shape his behaviour. It is not just background noise. It is something he says he actively responds to by staying away from public spaces.
Keoghan's Decision To Step Back From Social Media
This is not the first time Keoghan has addressed the issue.
In 2024, he announced that he had deleted his Instagram account after facing what he described as a barrage of abuse. At the time, he explained his decision in a post on X, writing: 'I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work.'
He went further, describing the messages he had received as deeply personal and invasive. 'The messages I have received no person should ever have to read [...] absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent, and every other inhumane thing you can imagine,' he wrote.
Online Hate That Extended Beyond Social Media
He said the situation didn't stay online—it started affecting his real life too. People weren't just leaving hurtful comments; they were targeting his personal life and family. Some spread false and offensive claims about his background, including calling him a 'heroin baby' and criticising how he was raised. Others brought his family into it, mentioning his mother in a negative way.
More seriously, he said some people went as far as showing up in person. According to him, individuals knocked on his grandmother's door and waited outside his child's home, which he described as intimidating and unacceptable.
'Talking about how I was a "heroin baby" and how I grew up, and dragging my dear mother into it, also knocking on my granny's door, sitting outside my baby boy's house, intimidating them. That's crossing a line.'
Keoghan had already spoken previously about the 'absolutely disgusting' nature of some online comments, particularly those targeting his appearance and his role as a father. The timing of the increased attention around him, including reports about his personal life, appears to have intensified the volume of online abuse he has received.
