If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the edits. Sabrina Carpenter, the 5-foot-nothing pop powerhouse, is currently the undisputed queen of the "unbothered" era. But behind the chart-topping hits and that iconic "Espresso" energy is a trail of high-profile relationships that have fueled some of the best songwriting of the decade. Finding a Sabrina Carpenter ex boyfriend in the wild usually involves a mix of red-carpet whispers, lyrical detective work, and the occasional awkward paparazzi shot in Los Angeles.
Honestly, it's a lot to keep track of. One minute she’s walking the Met Gala steps with an Oscar nominee, and the next, she’s dropping a music video that basically torches a "situationship" we all forgot existed. As of early 2026, Sabrina seems to be leaning into the single life, but the history is... complicated.
The Barry Keoghan Era: Why it Actually Ended
Most people are still caught up on the Barry Keoghan of it all. It was the "it" couple pairing no one saw coming—the bubbly Disney alum and the gritty, intense Saltburn star. They first crossed paths at Paris Fashion Week in September 2023. By early 2024, they were the internet’s favorite obsession. Remember that "Please Please Please" music video? Having your real-life boyfriend play a criminal while you beg him not to embarrass you is a level of "meta" that only Sabrina could pull off.
But by December 2024, the flame died out.
The breakup wasn't some dramatic, public explosion. According to various reports from People and InStyle, it came down to the classic "career-focused" excuse. Both were at the absolute peaks of their professional lives. However, things got a bit spicy in 2025. Sabrina released "Manchild," and fans immediately started pointing fingers at Barry.
"This one's about you!!" she wrote on Instagram, and well, the lyrics about a guy who can't handle a real relationship didn't exactly paint a flattering picture.
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Barry, for his part, went radio silent. He actually deactivated his Instagram in early 2025, citing online harassment and the need to protect his family. It's a reminder that even when these breakups look like "shading" from the outside, there's usually a lot of real-life stress involving kids (Barry has a son, Brando) and privacy that doesn't make it into the lyrics.
The Shawn Mendes "Situationship" and the Palm Springs Mystery
If you want to understand the "Short n' Sweet" album, you have to look at Shawn Mendes. This wasn't a long-term thing, but it was messy. Early 2023 saw them walking around LA together, looking cozy. But then, Shawn was spotted at Coachella with his ex, Camila Cabello.
Ouch.
Sabrina didn't say much at the time, but her music did the heavy lifting later. Songs like "Taste" and "Cindy Lou Who" are widely believed to be about this exact triangle. Shawn actually addressed the drama (vaguely) on John Mayer's podcast in late 2024. He admitted to visiting an ex because of "unresolved feelings" while he was seeing someone else. He called himself "impulsive." Fans called it a betrayal.
It’s interesting because this short-lived romance changed Sabrina’s public image. She went from the "girl next door" to a songwriter who wasn't afraid to call out the guy who left her for his old flame.
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The 2021 Love Triangle: Joshua Bassett and the "Blonde Girl"
We can't talk about a Sabrina Carpenter ex boyfriend without mentioning the Joshua Bassett saga. It’s the drama that defined 2021. If you weren't there, here's the spark-notes version:
- Joshua and Olivia Rodrigo were a thing (allegedly).
- Joshua and Sabrina started hanging out, wearing matching Sharkboy and Lavagirl costumes for Halloween.
- Olivia dropped "drivers license," mentioning a "blonde girl" who was "so much older."
Sabrina was 21; Olivia was 17. The internet went into a frenzy. Sabrina responded with "Skin," which had that iconic line, "Maybe blonde was the only rhyme."
Looking back in 2026, the whole thing feels like a fever dream. The most important takeaway? They’ve all moved on. In 2025, fans actually caught a video of Olivia and Sabrina hugging at the Grammys. It turns out, most of the "feud" was fueled by fans who wanted a villain, while the actual people involved were just twenty-somethings trying to navigate heartbreak.
Sabrina's Dating Timeline (The Notable Ones)
- Bradley Steven Perry (2014–2015): This was her first big public relationship. They were Disney kids. He famously asked her out by putting a note in a bottle. Even years later, in 2024, Bradley spoke super highly of her on his podcast, saying she's "doing way better than anybody in the world."
- Griffin Gluck (2019–2020): They met on the set of Tall Girl. This one was tough because Griffin faced a lot of online backlash for past behavior, and Sabrina ended up catching heat for it too. It was around this time she started pulling back from interacting with fans so much.
- Joshua Bassett (2020–2021): The "Skin" era. Short, intense, and very musical.
- Shawn Mendes (2023): The "Palm Springs" situationship that inspired half of her best bridge lyrics.
- Barry Keoghan (2023–2024): The Oscar-nominee era. Ended due to busy schedules and, if you believe the lyrics to "Manchild," some maturity gaps.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Dating Life
The biggest misconception is that Sabrina is a "homewrecker" or that she thrives on drama. If you actually look at the timelines, she’s usually the one left picking up the pieces after a guy decides to go back to his ex or realizes he isn't ready for her level of fame.
In her March 2025 Vogue interview, she admitted that the heartbreak that inspired Emails I Can't Send (widely believed to be about Joshua) was her "first real one." It changed how she saw love. She described it as "grieving someone who is still alive."
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That’s a heavy sentiment for someone whose brand is "Espresso" and sparkly outfits. It shows that while we see the red carpet photos, the actual Sabrina Carpenter ex boyfriend experience involves a lot of behind-the-scenes processing that eventually turns into $1 billion-streamed hits.
What’s Next for Sabrina?
Right now? She’s solo. And honestly, it’s working for her. 2025 was the year she solidified herself as a global superstar, and 2026 looks like more of the same. She’s joked about there being "slim pickins" when it comes to dating, and for a woman at her level of success, that makes sense. Who has the time?
If you're trying to keep up with her status, stop looking at the tabloids and start listening to the lyrics. Sabrina is an artist who tells on herself—and her exes—through her music.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Lyrics: If you want the real story behind Barry or Shawn, listen to "Manchild" and "Taste" back-to-back. The details are in the bridges.
- Ignore the "Beef": The 2025 Grammy hug between Sabrina and Olivia Rodrigo proves that the "love triangle" drama is officially dead. Don't waste energy on the old fan wars.
- Watch the Credits: Sabrina often casts her interests in her videos (like Barry in "Please Please Please"). If a new "mystery man" shows up in a video, he's likely the next one to watch.
The "Sabrina Carpenter ex boyfriend" list might grow, or she might stay single for a while. Either way, we’re getting great music out of it.
For more on how her past relationships influenced her current sound, you can dive into the track-by-track breakdown of her latest album or check out her recent interviews where she discusses the "healing" process of her 20s.