Actor John Connors has publicly denounced the online abuse directed at his friend and former co-star Barry Keoghan, describing the treatment as "disgusting." Keoghan, who has spoken about how online criticism of his appearance has made him withdraw from public life, has faced increased scrutiny following his 2024 breakup with pop star Sabrina Carpenter and comments related to his young son.
Connors, who acted alongside Keoghan in the 2012 film "Stalker" and the RTÉ crime series "Love/Hate," emphasized the profound impact of Keoghan's challenging background. "If people just walked a mile in Barry’s shoes and knew the background he had – Barry had one of the toughest upbringings you could imagine," Connors stated. He detailed Keoghan's upbringing in the foster care system due to his parents' struggles with addiction, noting that both have since passed away.
Keoghan was subsequently raised by his grandmother and aunt in Dublin's inner city. Connors highlighted the resilience required to overcome such circumstances, calling Keoghan "one in a million" and a "pioneer" for reaching his level of success. "So I really don’t like when people start giving him stick or judging him. They don’t know him," Connors added.
Connors also shared his own experiences in the film industry, including having a part written specifically for him by filmmaker Werner Herzog for the drama "Bucking Fastard." He described working with Herzog and co-stars Kate and Rooney Mara as a positive experience. Connors also recalled bonding with Vinnie Jones on the set of Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen," noting Jones's down-to-earth demeanor.
In a separate matter, Connors, who stars in the upcoming film "Murphy Vs Christmas," commented on the potential controversy surrounding its theme. The film, which explores a father's public campaign against the notion of Santa Claus, has already generated discussion. Connors suggested that any public outcry could inadvertently serve as marketing for the movie, which he described as "philosophically and theologically very, very interesting."