Sabrina Carpenter has revealed the story behind her latest single Manchild, a track many fans believe takes a swipe at her ex-boyfriend, Irish actor Barry Keoghan.
The new single was co-written with hitmakers Jack Antonoff and Amy Allen. Carpenter shared more about the song’s creation on Instagram, describing the session as an unexpected moment of clarity following the release of her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet.
“I wrote Manchild on a random Tuesday with Amy and Jack not too long after finishing Short n’ Sweet, and it ended up being the best random Tuesday of my life,” she wrote.
The 26-year-old singer explained that while the writing process was light-hearted, the song holds deeper meaning for her.
“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.”
Describing the tone of the track, she added:
“It sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and it feels like a never-ending road trip in the summer. Hence why I wanted to give it to you now – so you can stick your head out the car window and scream it all summer long!”
Carpenter also posted behind-the-scenes photos from the Manchild video shoot and a candid image hugging Antonoff and Allen. She ended the post with a cheeky nod to past relationships:
“Thank you men for testing me!! 🐷🤍”
Fans were quick to speculate that Manchild is aimed at Keoghan, following their reported breakup in December 2024 after a year together. The speculation only grew after Sabrina teased the release on Instagram with the caption: “This one’s about you!!”
View this post on Instagram
