SignalHub-Barry Keoghan says he's 'not an absent father' after parenting criticism: 'It sickens me'

Barry Keoghan has had enough of the baby back talk.

The SignalHubIrish actor addressed online criticism of his parenting in a candid interview on "The Louis Theroux Podcast" released Tuesday. Keoghan shares 2-year-old son Brando with former partner Alyson Kierans.

"People love to use my son as ammunition or whatever," Keoghan told host Louis Theroux. "And it kind of leads me to stop, the more attention I've got lately and the more in the public I've become, the less I've posted about my child because I don't think it's fair to put my child online."

But the "Saltburn" star said his decision to not post about his son on social media has led to a negative perception of his fatherhood among some commentators.

"Because I reigned that in, people draw a narrative and go 'absent father … deadbeat dad,' and more disgusting things I wouldn't even repeat," Keoghan said. "Just the audacity of some people, man. It sickens me, makes me furious."

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Barry Keoghan:Actor gets naked for Vanity Fair Hollywood cover issue, talks 'Saltburn' dance

Brando was reportedly born in August 2022, according to People magazine. In a January interview with GQ, Keoghan revealed the toddler was born during the production of "Saltburn," which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a drama motion picture.

"It was probably the best time of my life, to be quite fair," Keoghan said at the time. "Havin' a baby boy and leadin' a movie."

Barry Keoghan 'had no blueprint' for parenting after tumultuous childhood

In his nearly hour-and-a-half interview on "The Louis Theroux Podcast," Keoghan opened up about how his childhood and relationship with his parents shaped his parenting journey.

Keoghan's mother, who battled a heroin addiction, died when he was 12 years old. The actor didn't have a relationship with his father and went on to be placed in 14 foster homes.

"She was just unable to look after us," Keoghan reflected. "My father wasn't there, and so we got taken into care and no one knew about this. I think she was too embarrassed to tell my granny, and so no one knew that's when we went through all that. All the different homes."

He added: "Of course, (it's) going to affect me being a father when I had no blueprint to take from. People just read that (as) laziness and go, 'Oh, that's no excuse to be an absent father.' I'm not an absent father."

'I'm not gonna die, right?':Barry Keoghan reveals he battled flesh-eating disease

As for navigating criticism of his fatherhood on social media, Keoghan said he's gotten to the point that he's "blocked out" search terms relating to his son.

"People don't deserve to put that in a sentence, anything," Keoghan said. "I'm just trying to make a living, trying to get a good body of work and create safety for my child."