Barry Keoghan responds to parenting criticism: ‘It infuriates me’
The Irish actor is the father of two-year-old Brando with his ex-partner Alyson Kierans.
Barry Keoghan is tired of the ongoing discussions about his fatherhood.
In a recent episode of “The Louis Theroux Podcast,” which aired on Tuesday, Keoghan candidly addressed the backlash he’s faced regarding his parenting. He has a two-year-old son named Brando with his previous partner Alyson Kierans.
“People often use my son as a topic to criticize me,” Keoghan explained to Louis Theroux. “The more popular I’ve become, the less I feel it’s right to share my child’s life online.”
However, Keoghan noted that his choice to limit sharing about Brando has led some people to wrongly label him as an uninvolved father.
“Because I’ve chosen not to share much, people assume things like ‘absent father’ or ‘deadbeat dad,’ which are horrible things to say,” he stated. “It shocks me that some people can be so rude. It really angers me.”
Brando was reportedly born in August 2022, as shared by People magazine. In an interview with GQ earlier this year, Keoghan revealed that Brando was born while he was filming “Saltburn,” a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
“It was one of the best moments in my life, honestly,” Keoghan remarked at that time. “Becoming a father while leading a film was incredible.”
Barry Keoghan navigates parenting without a guide after a troubled upbringing
During his almost hour-and-a-half conversation on “The Louis Theroux Podcast,” Keoghan shared insights about how his challenging childhood influenced his approach to parenting.
Keoghan’s mother, who struggled with heroin addiction, passed away when he was only 12. He had no relationship with his father and spent time in 14 different foster homes.
“She just couldn’t take care of us,” Keoghan reminisced. “My father was absent, so we had to enter care. No one knew about our situation; I think my mother was too ashamed to tell my grandmother.”
He continued, “Naturally, that experience will affect how I father my son, especially since I didn’t have a role model to learn from. Yet, some consider that an excuse to label me as an absent father. I refuse to accept that description.”
Regarding the negative comments about his parenting, Keoghan mentioned he’s taken steps to shield himself from such online discussions by blocking certain keywords related to his son.
“People shouldn’t be putting anything like that into the conversation,” he expressed. “I’m trying to build a career, provide a stable environment for my child.”