Barry Keoghan, the acclaimed Saltburn actor, was spotted reacting to some very suggestive lyrics at Sabrina Carpenter‘s concert on Sunday, Oct. 20, in Virginia, fueling rumors about their on-and-off relationship.
The 32-year-old actor attended Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour at Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena, where fans caught his reaction during Carpenter’s performance of “Bed Chem.” The song, from Carpenter’s 2024 album Short n’ Sweet, includes the lyrics, “Who’s the cute boy with the white jacket and the thick accent?” sparking speculation that it’s a playful reference to Keoghan himself.
When Carpenter reached that particular lyric at the concert, Keoghan, who was in the audience, appeared visibly excited, even covering his mouth with a piece of paper, seemingly trying to hide a smile or blush. The moment, captured by fans, further ignited talk about their relationship.
Keoghan had previously acknowledged the song in a humorous way. Back in September, while attending the Burberry Spring/Summer 2025 show at London Fashion Week, he was photographed wearing a white jacket, reminiscent of the one referenced in Carpenter’s lyrics. Vogue even created a TikTok using “Bed Chem” as the soundtrack, captioning it, “Who’s the cute boy with the white #Burberry jacket and the thick accent? Perhaps it’s #BarryKeoghan at #LFW?” Keoghan responded to the post with a cheeky comment, “He’s sart of like an Irish porson,” playing off a viral joke about their rumored romance.
The two stars reportedly first crossed paths at Paris Fashion Week in 2023 and were seen having dinner in Los Angeles two months later, sparking rumors of a romance. Since then, their relationship has been a topic of intrigue, with many speculating on its status.
Adding to the speculation, Carpenter cast Keoghan in the music video for her song “Please Please Please,” where they portrayed a Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired duo. Despite the rumors, Carpenter insisted during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that her decision to cast Keoghan was purely professional. “I was like, ‘Who’s the greatest actor that I can find for this music video?’ And he was next to me in a chair,” she said, dismissing any suggestions of bias.
The Short n’ Sweet Tour, which began in September in Columbus, Ohio, is set to wrap up its 2024 leg in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, with international dates scheduled to resume in Dublin in March 2025.
Keoghan and Carpenter’s chemistry—both on and off stage—continues to captivate fans, leaving many to wonder just how much of Carpenter’s flirty lyrics are inspired by her real-life relationship with the Irish actor.
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