Barry Keoghan on Online Hate: “Not Want to Go Outside” | Consequence

Actor Barry Keoghan says he is increasingly reluctant to appear in public due to online abuse targeting his physical appearance, potentially impacting both his personal life and career. Speaking on Sirius XM’s The Morning Mash Up, Keoghan described a surge in negativity that has led him to withdraw from public events.

“There’s a lot of hate online,” Keoghan admitted. “There’s a lot of abuse of how I look, and it’s kind of past the point of — you know, everyone goes through that… but it’s made me shy away. It’s made me really head inside myself, not want to attend places, not want to go outside.” He acknowledged the issue was “a problem,” and while he has largely removed himself from social media platforms, he still occasionally checks reactions to his public appearances.

Keoghan expressed concern that the online harassment could eventually affect his son, Brando, who was born in 2022. “It is disappointing for the fans, but it’s likewise disappointing that my little boy has to read all of this stuff when he gets older,” he said. The actor fears the abuse could ultimately stifle his artistic expression. “When that starts leaking into your art, it becomes a problem given that then you don’t want to even be on screen anymore,” he explained.

Despite the negativity, Keoghan is currently preparing for a significant role as Ringo Starr in an upcoming series of four Beatles biopics. The films, slated for simultaneous release in 2028, will each focus on a different member of the iconic band, with Joseph Quinn portraying George Harrison, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney. Keoghan recently described his co-stars as “brothers” during an interview on Sirius XM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, expressing his enthusiasm for the project.

Keoghan previously admitted to feeling “nervous” during his first meeting with Starr ahead of filming, recalling on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he struggled to make eye contact. He explained that his role requires careful observation and an attempt to humanize Starr, rather than simply imitate him.