Red Flags For Sabrina Carpenter And Barry Keoghan's Relationship From Our Matchmaker
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan have sparked a lot of interest from fans since they made their red-carpet debut earlier this year, and the pair only added fuel to the fire when they attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party together back in March. However, rumors of their budding romance took root much earlier, dating back to December 2023 when the two celebs were spotted sharing a meal in Los Angeles. Carpenter and Keoghan have kept their courtship largely under the radar so far, but that hasn't stopped some fans from pointing out some relationship red flags, including their age difference, the actor's sudden split from his ex-girlfriend, and only one of them being a parent.
What's more, the pop star and "Saltburn" actor are both currently at high points in their careers, and neither star appears to have any intention of slowing down, with the "Espresso" singer's nonstop performances and the Irish actor consistently appearing in new films, like "Bird." That said, the fast-paced celebrity lifestyle can take its toll, and public scrutiny can bring issues to the surface. To understand their relationship better, Gliz spoke exclusively to matchmaker and CEO of Exclusive Matchmaking Susan Trombetti, who helped break down the warning signs for this young power couple's fledgling romance.
There's a seven-year age gap between the stars
One of the first potential red flags for the Eras Tour opener and BAFTA-winning actor is their age discrepancy. At the time of writing, Keoghan is 31 years old, while the "Nonsense" singer is 25, but only one of them has had their birthday so far this year. This creates a seven-year age difference, which far surpasses what research says is the perfect age gap (up to three years). "Her age is a bit of a red flag," Susan Trombetti tells Gliz during an exclusive chat. "Even though he is only [seven] years older, she is not out of her twenties. She is 25, and I always feel like she should be busy living in her 20s and not settling down too quickly."
Navigating relationship age gaps is common within celeb circles, but being common doesn't mean it can't cause problems. "He went for the younger version of his ex [girlfriend] .. I'm no longer for it," a netizen wrote in the comment section of a YouTube video that details Keoghan's relationship timeline. In the same vein, some fans also note the physical similarities between said ex-girlfriend and Keoghan's new flame. His ex-girlfriend, Alyson Kierans, coincidentally shares Carpenter's dyed-blond hair, blue eyes, and defined brows. One TikTok creator even went as far as to say, "Yeah, they could be sisters." Several TikTok commenters maintain that Carpenter is simply his type, but one dissenting user wrote under the video, "Meh. They're both blondes with blue eyes. I'm more concerned how he left his newborn and postpartum partner," which brings us to their next red flag.
The Eternals actor must now balance fame with his responsibilities as a father
Brando Keoghan was born to Barry Keoghan and Alyson Kierans on August 8, 2022. Then, nearly a year after their son's birth, the actor split from his now-ex-girlfriend in July 2023. (That's five months before being spotted dining out with Sabrina Carpenter in Los Angeles, for those keeping track.) It appears that 2023 was quite an eventful year for the "Killing of a Sacred Deer" star, but his role as a father comes with many responsibilities and obstacles. He now faces the struggle of balancing his newfound fame with his developing relationship with Carpenter and the pressures of fatherhood.
"He has a child, and she is very young to understand the needs of a child. This doesn't mean it can't work, but children from the previous relationship or marriage can cause stress in the new relationship," Susan Trombetti shares exclusively with Gliz. "The needs of the children come before the needs of the girlfriend or wife, and she is only 25 and might have trouble with that."
Additionally, some people believe that the Irish actor was too quick to split with his ex-girlfriend and newborn. "I just really don't like the idea of him leaving his newborn and family as soon as he got some fame to his name," a comment under the aforementioned video about Keoghan's relationship history reads. "Can you imagine? Supporting your partner chasing his dreams, and then he just gets stars in his eyes and leaves. Hm..."
The actor could be letting the fame get to his head
Barry Keoghan's sudden rise to fame following the success of "Eternals" and "Saltburn" must have the actor feeling over the moon. After all, the award-winning celeb has admitted to "enjoying" the Hollywood lifestyle (via GQ). However, he added to the outlet in January, "You can get caught up in it, and it's kind of dangerous in that sense." Stardom comes at a cost, and the Dublin native may be spending too much time basking in his global popularity. In fact, sources close to the actor and his ex-girlfriend reveal that their split back in 2023 may have been caused by too much partying.
"Barry was on a massive high after the film's success and deservedly so. ... However, his relationship with Alyson [Kierans] has suffered," a source told The Sun in July 2023, referring to "The Banshees of Inisherin." Another insider added that the two had become distant, with Kierans believing Keoghan was catching feelings for another woman. "His partying caused arguments. Alyson ... is adamant there is no going back. As far as she's concerned, it's over," the insider explained. Ultimately, being suspected of infidelity after your career kicks off raises some red flags. Could something similar happen in his relationship with Sabrina Carpenter?
Barry Keoghan has had encounters with the police
While letting loose at parties isn't a crime, drinking your way into police custody is. This is exactly what happened to the "Chernobyl" star back in April 2022 in Dublin. The then-29-year-old star was arrested by members of the An Garda Síochána, the Irish police service, due to public intoxication after a resident of the apartment complex he was at reported him to the authorities. Ultimately, the police found Keoghan intoxicated on a balcony, but he was let go with a warning after being arrested. According to a source who spoke to the Irish Independent, one of Keoghan's relatives resides in a property next to the apartment where he was arrested, but how he wound up on the balcony of the neighboring complex remains a mystery.
Again, having a wild night out with friends isn't necessarily a red flag on its own, but the timing of the incident is questionable, as it occurred mere months before his son's birth. Leaving the police station after being detained for public intoxication likely isn't the kind of behavior many expect from a man with a child on the way. This also begs the question of whether the star still imbibes in the same way, as many celebrities turn to alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame.
Sabrina and Barry will have to navigate an increasingly public relationship
Although the "Love/Hate" actor and "Because I Liked a Boy" artist are enjoying their life in the limelight, growing and maintaining a publicized relationship comes with its own set of obstacles. Juggling hectic schedules, for one, comes with the territory of being an A-list celeb and is likely to present challenges as the relationship progresses. "The tour and concert schedule for Sabrina can be rough on the relationship," Susan Trombetti explains exclusively to Gliz. However, she adds, "Taylor [Swift] and Travis [Kelce] make it work, and these two can as well. It's just harder, and knowing he has a child makes him less free to travel and see her, but it's not that big of a deal."
What's more, the pair also has to contend with privacy issues now that their relationship is public. A lack of privacy can cause friction in the future, especially due to the nature of their work, which requires so much of their lives to be put on display for others. "In photos, [Keoghan] seems more private and less likely to show he is all in even though I think he is," Trombetti tells us, referencing his body language and tendency to cover his face. The actor's "private nature," as Trombetti describes it, may make it difficult to keep up with the young pop star, who's been in the entertainment industry from a young age and boasts a very active social media presence.