Singer Sabrina Carpenter has sent the rumour mill into overdrive after appearing to take a thinly-veiled swipe at her former boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan, in a social media post that fans have been quick to dissect.
The Cryptic TikTok That Started It All
The 26-year-old pop star reposted a video on her official TikTok page which carried a blunt message: 'It's been a tough year but at least I didn't get back with my ex'. The clip notably featured Carpenter's own track, 'Manchild', a song widely speculated to have been inspired by her relationship with and subsequent split from the Irish actor.
Carpenter's most recent public romance was with Keoghan, 33. The pair first connected at Paris Fashion Week in September 2023 and dated until late 2024. Her decision to share the TikTok has been interpreted by followers as a clear reference to that chapter of her life.
Fan Reactions and Lyrical Speculation
The online reaction was swift and decisive. Fans flooded the comments, with many praising the singer's apparent candour. One user wrote, 'Sabrina Carpenter with a very relatable repost', while others declared 'Shots fired' and 'She's so real!'.
This is not the first time Carpenter has hinted at the song's inspiration. When announcing the release of 'Manchild' earlier this year, she penned a telling caption: 'This one's about you!! Manchild is out this Thursday.' The track's lyrics, which critique immature behaviour in a partner, have led fans to firmly believe it is directed at Keoghan.
Despite the intense speculation, Carpenter has expertly dodged direct confirmation. During a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she was pressed on which ex inspired the hit. Instead of answering, she coolly grabbed a beer and took a long sip on camera, letting the silent moment fuel the mystery further.
A Relationship Under the Spotlight
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan's relationship was a focal point for media attention after they went public at the Met Gala in May 2024. While it was believed they had parted ways by December that year, subsequent reports suggested an on-and-off dynamic, with sources citing conflicting, demanding schedules as a major strain.
Insiders previously told outlets that the split was 'not contentious' and that there was 'no bad blood', attributing the breakup to being at 'different places in their lives'. They noted that Carpenter's exploding career, which pulled her in 'so many directions', made sustaining the relationship challenging.
In a past interview with Rolling Stone, when asked about referring to Keoghan as her boyfriend, Carpenter responded coyly, 'How do I skirt around this question?' She added, 'Obviously, I write songs about exactly how I feel, so I guess I can’t be so surprised that people are interested in who and what those songs are about.'
New Music and Continued Speculation
Adding more fuel to the fire, Carpenter surprised fans on Christmas Eve by releasing a bonus track version of 'Man’s Best Friend', which included a new song titled 'Such a Funny Way'. The lyrics continue the theme of romantic disillusionment, with lines like 'You have such a funny way of sayin' 'I love you' / Forgettin' me more every day.'
She described the release as a 'cathartic Christmas crashout' and a gift for her listeners. Whether intentional or not, the timing and content of her recent musical output ensure that speculation about her personal life and its artistic consequences remains firmly in the public eye.
