Barry Keoghan Speaks Out on Online Criticism About His Appearance

Barry Keoghan is candidly discussing the flood of negative comments regarding his physical looks online.

“There’s definitely an unpleasant aspect to fame, and while I’ve distanced myself from social media, I’m still a naturally curious person who wants to stay informed,” Keoghan, 33, shared during the Friday, March 20, broadcast of SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up. “Whenever I attend an event or go somewhere, I’m interested to see how it was perceived.”

He added, “It’s disheartening; there’s a significant amount of negativity online. The abuse about my appearance has gone beyond the point of just being something everyone faces. It has made me retreat and hesitate about attending events.”

The Saltburn star expressed that consistently encountering harsh criticisms from fans has led him to “avoid going outside” altogether.

“It’s turning into an issue,” Keoghan remarked. “I’m hiding away. I genuinely avoid places because of this. When this affects your creativity, it becomes a real problem because you start to not even want to appear on screen anymore.”

The Irish actor further reflected on how this experience has been “disheartening” for his 3-year-old son Brando.

“When he gets older, my little boy will have to read all of this,” Keoghan mentioned.

Keoghan, who co-parents Brando with ex Alyson Sandro, had previously shared that his son played a pivotal role in his decision to delete his social media accounts.

“I can only endure so much. My name has been dragged through the mud online in ways I usually let slide,” Keoghan stated in a December 2024 announcement. “I feel the need to address it now, as the boundaries are being crossed. I deactivated my account because I can’t allow this to distract me from my family and my work.”

Keoghan pointed out that he has had to read “outrageous falsehoods” and “vile comments” about his looks, character, and parenting that he hopes Brando won’t believe in the future.

“Every single day, I strive to be the healthiest and strongest version of myself for that boy,” he expressed at the time. “I want to give him opportunities to learn, fail, and grow. I aspire for him to look up to his dad, have complete faith in me, and know I will always support him. Remember, he will read ALL of this about his father when he gets older. Please show respect to everyone.”