Sabrina Carpenter, the Espresso hitmaker, has addressed her recent breakup with actor Barry Keoghan in a candid moment during a surprise performance at The Ally Coalition talent show on December 17th in New York, reported by Radar Online.
The 25-year-old singer joined Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff on stage to perform Slim Pickins, a track he produced for her Short n’ Sweet album. Before diving into the performance, Carpenter offered a pointed reflection on relationships, sharing the idiom that inspired her post-breakup outlook.
“There’s plenty of fish in the sea,” she said to the audience, before bluntly adding, “That’s a big fat lie.” Carpenter hinted that her take might be a little “pessimistic,” but the moment resonated as a clear nod to her recent split.
The breakup between Carpenter and Keoghan, 31, came earlier this month after nearly a year of dating. A source told US Weekly that their demanding schedules made the relationship difficult to maintain.
“It’s been challenging for their relationship since she started going on tour and has been gone a lot,” the insider shared. “Their schedules were not aligning. All the time spent apart—it was hard to maintain a relationship amid her career exploding.” In the wake of the news, Keoghan deleted his social media accounts, asking fans to “please be respectful.”
Despite the split, both stars are focused on their flourishing careers. Carpenter has enjoyed a landmark year, achieving a major breakout with the release of her Short n’ Sweet album and serving as an opener for Taylor Swift’s global Eras Tour. She remains a dominant force in pop music, with her witty lyrics and catchy tracks gaining massive acclaim.
Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan, known for his roles in Saltburn and The Banshees of Inisherin, is staying busy with high-profile film projects, including his work in Peaky Blinders.
Carpenter is now preparing for the release of her Nonsense Christmas special on Netflix, adding another highlight to her already stellar year.
While the breakup marks a personal setback, Carpenter’s lighthearted and relatable comments about relationships—and her unstoppable momentum in music—prove she’s staying strong and focused as she continues her rise to stardom.