Sabrina Carpenter is one of today’s most popular and mesmerizing artists. Her latest album, Short n Sweet, has produced some of today’s most streamed songs, such as “Espresso“, “Bed Chem“, and “Please, Please, Please“. Recently, the star released a brand-new single titled “Manchild.” The teaser trailer, which was released on June 3, featured Carpenter in a revealing outfit as she tries to hitch a ride alongside a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Not only are fans freaking out over her new track, but many also believe that the song and Carpenter’s announcement on social media are direct shade at her ex-boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan.
Sabrina Carpenter’s New Single ‘Manchild’ May Be About Ex Barry Keoghan
Sabrina Carpenter’s music has long captivated listeners with its infectious melodies and catchy lyrics. However, aside from her most ardent fans, some may not realize that behind many of her songs lie true stories that contain complex emotions and experiences. According to the pop star, these facets, which are often centered around romance, have inspired many of her biggest hit singles, which partly explains why they resonate with so many fans worldwide. The fact that the “Espresso” singer has been able to be so vulnerable in her songs while also creating fun music is part of the reason for her meteoric rise in popularity.
In October 2021, she told Billboard magazine that “To my friends, I was always like, ‘I just want to know what Adele’s feeling’…Like, how she made these gut-wrenching records. And I just became so fascinated with that… like, ‘D—, I just need some of whatever Adele was drinking!’ And… then I got it. It was super-eye-opening, and I am grateful for it all…But it’s still tricky to navigate.” The talented 25-year-old has already put out six albums, including the most successful one, Short n Sweet, released on August 23, 2024. As a follow-up to the album, Carpenter released the deluxe version of Short n Sweet on Valentine’s Day. Her latest single and music video, which premiered on June 5, is titled “Manchild”. The three-minute, thirty-three track is rumored to be off her highly anticipated seventh studio album, the latter details of which are unknown. The lyrics are stinging, with Carpenter singing about an immature man who lacks self-awareness against the backdrop of a pop-country melody. Fans on social media and critics such as Cosmopolitan magazine have speculated that the song is about Carpenter’s ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan.
Manchild, why you always come a-runnin’ to me?
F*** my life, won’t you let an innocent woman be?
Never heard of self-care
Half your brain just ain’t there
Manchild, why you always come a-runnin’, takin’ all my lovin’ from me?
– ‘Manchild’ – Sabrina Carpenter
It’s not hard to see why many would come to that conclusion, given the lyrics and the fact that Carpenter shared a cryptic message on social media a few days before the song’s release alongside teaser images. “This one’s about you!!” she wrote alongside pictures of billboards plastered across the I-69 highway with the words written on them that say “Amen / Hey men” and “I swear they choose me, I’m not choosing them.” As fans are sure to know, Carpenter and Keoghan broke up in December 2024 after rumors of infidelity spread online. However, a source close to the pair told People Magazine that the reason behind their breakup had to do with their busy schedules.
Barry Keoghan Isn’t the Only Ex Fans Think Sabrina Wrote About
According to Teen Vogue Magazine, in 2023, Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes sparked dating allegations after the pair were spotted out and about looking cozy together. However, their alleged romance didn’t appear to last long. Mendes and fellow singer Camila Cabello rekindled their relationship a few months later, only to split up a short while later. As always, listeners were left looking for details about her romantic relationship in Carpenter’s music, as neither she nor Mendes ever confirmed anything. Later, Carpenter dropped the music video for “Taste,” featuring Jenna Ortega—who many fans believe is portraying Camila Cabello. The video sparked speculation, as it centers on two women caught in a dramatic love triangle, seemingly fighting over the same man.
On the Short n Sweet album, many fans have also speculated that several songs are about Carpenter’s love triangle with Mendes and Cabello. For example, in the song “Coincidence,” some of the lyrics read:
The second I put my head on your chest
She knew she’s got a real sixth sense
Now her name comes up once, then it comes up twice
And without her even being here, she’s back in your life
Now she’s in the same damn city on the same d— night
– Coincidence
If there’s one thing Sabrina Carpenter’s music makes clear, it’s that she’s not afraid to write about the men from her past. Whether she’s throwing subtle shade or getting a little more personal, her lyrics always seem to carry a piece of the story.