Sabrina Carpenter is entering a new era — and she’s not holding back.
Her upcoming single “Manchild”, set to drop this Friday, June 6, has already sparked a storm of theories online. Is it a breakup anthem? A subtle jab at an ex? A go-girl statement wrapped in glittery pop production? The answer might be: all of the above. And there’s a big chance we’ll hear it live at the 2025 Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona.
Let’s start with the obvious: “Manchild” isn’t exactly a neutral word. It’s a term often used to describe men who refuse to grow up — emotionally, mentally, or in relationships. In other words, it’s about immaturity dressed as masculinity. Fans familiar with Sabrina’s style know she’s no stranger to tongue-in-cheek, emotionally charged lyrics — and this track seems like it’s following in that tradition.
Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter attend The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating «Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion» at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
“This one’s about you,” the pop star wrote in the caption of the Instagram post announcing ‘Manchild.’
The most popular theory circulating online is that ‘Manchild’ is inspired by Sabrina’s ex, Irish actor Barry Keoghan. The two had been linked in 2024 and made several public appearances together, but have since gone silent. Neither has confirmed a split, but eagle-eyed fans noticed that they unfollowed each other on Instagram earlier this year — classic Gen Z breakup behavior.
If Manchild is indeed about Keoghan, it wouldn’t be the first time Sabrina has mined her personal life for songwriting material. From “because i liked a boy” to “Feather”, she’s consistently used her music to reflect on toxic dynamics, gender double standards, and how women are often portrayed in the aftermath of public relationships.
A Pattern in Her Music
Even if Manchild isn’t about a specific person, it clearly taps into a broader theme that runs through Short n’ Sweet and its Deluxe edition: the emotional labor women do in relationships, and the emotional immaturity they often encounter from men.
In “Please Please Please”, she sings about falling for someone who constantly lets her down in public. In “Feather”, she’s light and free — because she’s finally let go of a draining partner. Sabrina has carved out a niche for herself in pop as a kind of modern-day anti-princess: witty, self-aware, and allergic to male fragility.
So, Manchild might be less of a direct diss and more of a continuation of this narrative — another chapter in her exploration of dating in your 20s when the emotional intelligence gap is very, very real.
A Mysterious B-Side
To make things more intriguing, the vinyl edition of Manchild includes a B-side labeled with the phrase:
“Inside of your head when you’ve just won an argument with a man.”
Is this another lyric? A spoken-word piece? A diary-style voice memo? Whatever it is, it’s giving main character energy. The line alone adds a layer of sarcasm and self-reflection that feels deeply on-brand for Sabrina — and suggests the song might not just be angry, but smart, funny, and emotionally sharp.
Sabrina Carpenter performs during the 2024 Governors Ball at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 08, 2024 in New York City. Marleen Moise/Getty Images
Whether ‘Manchild’ is a breakup diss aimed at Barry Keoghan or a broader takedown of emotionally stunted men everywhere, one thing’s clear: Sabrina Carpenter knows how to turn her love life into pop gold. With every release, she gets a little sharper, a little sassier, and a lot more unapologetic.
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