Sabrina Carpenter is the type of singer who LOVES expressing her real self through her lyrics and music video visuals. Last summer, Sabrina admitted about the lyrics of “Espresso” that:  “It was a manifestation tactic, because no one liked me romantically at that point – no one was obsessed with me,” she told The Guardian. “I didn’t have anyone I was even talking to.”

It worked out since she’s one of the most sought-after Gen-Z starlets of our modern era. Some people are questioning if she similarly expressed herself in her recent single “Manchild” to clap back against her ex-boyfriend, Barry Keoghan. Plenty of fans are starting to think so, and with valid reason!

Did Sabrina Just Throw More Shade at Barry?

Sabrina just dropped “Manchild” and has been promoting it on Instagram with a series of posts in honor of the song and music video. In one edgy caption, she wrote, “This one’s about you!” So… who is that comment directed to? 

The scathing lyrics of the song say, “Manchild, why you always come running 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.”

Sabrina’s most recent ex-boyfriend is Barry, which leads people to suspect the song is all about him. One person in her comment section jokingly referenced Barry’s movie Saltburn in a comment writing, “Damn, that SALT in Barry’s wound BURNS right now, I know it.” 

Other fans have also chimed in with their thoughts:

• “Barry reading the lyrics to #Manchild and realizing she exposed that he finishes quickly.”
• “You better clock that Barry boy. He is so cooked.”
• “It’s Sabrina‘s hot girl summer, and we know Barry’s out in the cold.

But, not everyone’s convinced the song is about Barry. Others believe “Manchild” is far more generalized and simply meant for all the manchildren of the world. Sabrina‘s relationship with Barry came crashing down in December 2024, so she’s had more than enough time to process their split.

According to Sabrina, the song was written with a loving and positive mindset that goes well beyond her failed relationship with her ex.

In an IG caption, she explained, “I wrote ‘Manchild’ on a random Tuesday… not too long after finishing Short n’ Sweet, and it ended up being the best random Tuesday of my life. Not only was it so fun to write, but this song became something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life…”
Still… It’s easy to understand why so many fans insist the song is a direct clapback against Barry. That’s because Sabrina fully threw shade at him in her music video for her remix of “Please Please Please” that she recorded with the faaabulous Dolly Parton last spring.

In the OG music video, Sabrina gallivants around town with a hardened criminal who dabbles in illegal activities. Sabrina specifically chose to reference Barry in the music video since she knows he perfectly exudes bad boy energy. 

In the remix, Sabrina and Dolly are seen joyfully singing together while a Barry-look-alike is tied up in the back of a car, struggling to stay alive with a bag over his head. Barry’s body double, squirming around on the verge of death, speaks volumes about the level of shade she’s willing to throw! 

But we also have to remember that Sabrina has a super zesty, dark, and sarcastic sense of humor. She’s not interested in physically hurting anyone! But the way she tells stories in her music videos sure starts conversations. 

Even if Barry wasn’t the sole muse for “Manchild,” the theory that he played a part isn’t going anywhere.