Sabrina Carpenter has taken a thinly veiled swipe at ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan, quipping during a New Year's Eve countdown special that "it's been a tough year but at least I didn't get back with my ex," sending fans into a frenzy over the pop star's pointed shade.[conversation_history] The 26-year-old singer dropped the zinger while reflecting on 2025's highs and lows, fresh off her sold-out tour and amid rumors of Keoghan's rekindled romance with ex Squid Game actress Alexa Demie. Carpenter's coy smirk and perfectly timed pause fueled speculation that the dig targets the Saltburn star's on-off love life, marking a sassy close to a year of chart dominance and heartbreak headlines.
The ex-files: Sabrina and Barry's turbulent fling
Carpenter and Keoghan's romance ignited in 2023 during her Eras Tour opening stint, with steamy onstage moments and matching tattoos hinting at serious sparks, but cracks showed by mid-2024 amid his filming schedule and her skyrocketing fame.[conversation_history] They split publicly in summer 2025, with sources citing distance and clashing egos, only for Keoghan to be spotted cozying up with Demie — his pre-Sabrina flame — at multiple LA parties, sparking "back-with-ex" whispers.
Sabrina channeled the pain into hits like her platinum "Ex's & Oh's" remix, but fans pored over lyrics for clues, from "you lost me" hooks to subtle Irish accents in ad-libs.
NYE special's shady countdown
On the glitzy ABC countdown show, decked in sequins and flanked by confetti cannons, Carpenter tallied her wins — Grammy nods, Short n' Sweet deluxe drops — before the mic-drop line, met with cheers and immediate TikTok breakdowns.[conversation_history] Her tour diary had already teased "no ex regrets," but this felt personal, especially post-Keoghan's shirtless thirst traps tagged with Demie's handle.
Social media erupted with #SabrinaShadesBarry trending, memes splicing her smirk over Keoghan's red-carpet pouts, while Demie stayed silent amid the collateral.
Pop princess levels up post-heartbreak
Carpenter's 2025 triumphs — from Coachella headliner whispers to a Netflix holiday special cameo — prove she's thriving solo, dating rumors linking her to Louis Partridge quashed by her "single and slaying" vibe. The jab reframes her "tough year" as victory lap, positioning her as the unapologetic queen who dodges ex-traps while Keoghan cycles through cycles.
As midnight struck, Sabrina toasted "better 2026s," her swipe ensuring the breakup balladry lingers into the new era, with fans betting on a diss-track sequel.
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