Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' Anthem: The Real Reason She and Barry Keoghan Split!

Okay, so like, everyone was totally obsessed with Sabrina and Barry. It was the "it" couple of a minute there, right? You had her being all pop star queen and him being, you know, that guy from Saltburn who did... stuff. We won't get into that here, but you know what I mean. They seemed so cute, what with him going to her shows on The Eras Tour and then him starring in her "Please Please Please" music video. Like, hello, that's a relationship hard launch if I've ever seen one.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images for The Met Museum) The Real Reason She and Barry Keoghan Split!

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So, the big question on everyone's mind is, why did they break up? It's all a bit murky, as these things often are.

The Official-ish Reason (Which is Probably Just the PR Spin)

The first thing that came out, from what I've heard, was the classic "busy schedules" excuse. A source told People magazine (and you know People is basically the Bible of celebrity news, so it must be true) that they were both just super focused on their careers. You know, Sabrina's out there singing her heart out and Barry is, well, acting and being a famous actor. It's a tale as old as time, right? The long-distance thing, trying to make it work, but the careers just got in the way. It sounds so mature and grown-up, almost too grown-up for a celebrity breakup, which is why I'm a little bit suspicious, to be honest.

The Spicy Rumors (Which Are Way More Fun to Talk About)

Now, this is where it gets juicy. After the "busy schedules" thing came out, the internet started doing its thing and digging for more. There were whispers—like, really loud whispers—that maybe Barry cheated. Some gossip pages, like DeuxMoi (the one with the black bar over the name, you know the one), said that he was seen with some influencer girl from LA.1 Of course, neither of them ever said a word about it, which just makes the rumors even more believable, right? It's like, if you didn't do it, why not just say you didn't do it?

Then, the internet pointed out that Barry had a bit of a reputation as a party guy. Like, he likes to go out and have fun. And allegedly, Sabrina was getting a little tired of it. One source even said that his partying was "getting in the way of their relationship" and that he acted like an "idiot when he is drunk."2 I mean, who hasn't been there? I know I have. But when you're a super-famous pop star trying to headline a world tour, you probably don't have time for that nonsense. So, this "party animal" narrative totally adds up.

The Clues in the Music (Because a Breakup Isn't Real Until It's a Song)

Okay, but the real, real tea comes from Sabrina herself, in her music. Her new album, Man's Best Friend, is basically a masterclass in breakup songs.3 While she doesn't name names (they never do), fans are convinced—and I mean, convinced—that a lot of it is about Barry.

"Goodbye": This song is a major piece of evidence.4 She sings, "Broke my heart on Saturday.5 Guess overnight your feelings changed. And I have cried so much I almost fainted." Then the chorus goes, "Goodbye means that you're losing me for life. Can't call it love, then call it quits... Did you forget that it was you who said goodbye?" I mean, come on. That sounds like he broke up with her, not some mutual "busy schedules" decision. She's also saying that she cried so much she "almost fainted," which is so relatable it hurts.6

"Manchild": The title alone is a giveaway. She sings about a guy who is "Why so sexy if so dumb?" and how he can't survive without her. Ouch. She also blames his mom. Savage. It sounds like she's describing someone who is good-looking but totally useless, and she had to be the grown-up in the relationship.

"Tears": This one is about how hot it is when a guy just does the dishes or puts together IKEA furniture. Like, the bar is on the floor, ladies. This also fits the "manchild" narrative perfectly.

So, to sum it all up, the official line is that they were just too busy for each other. But the gossip and, most importantly, the new music from Sabrina herself, suggest that it was a much messier, more one-sided breakup. It seems like Barry broke up with her, maybe because of his partying or just a general lack of effort, and now she's singing about it for the world to hear. Which, honestly, is the best kind of revenge.

Wait, did I spell "Keoghan" right? I'm going to double-check that. K-E-O-G-H-A-N. Yeah, looks right. Okay, good. And "relatable" is one of my favorite words. I use it all the time. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, he deactivated his social media after all the rumors got crazy, which is another pretty strong hint that things didn't end so well.7 When in doubt, delete your Insta, right? It’s what I do when I post something embarrassing. Okay, I think I'm done now. That's the full, messy, and probably inaccurate because who really knows scoop.