Lip Reader Reveals What Sabrina Carpenter Said When She Saw Her Ex-Boyfriend Barry Keoghan on-Screen at the MTV VMAs

Sabrina Carpenter not only performed at the 2025 MTV VMAs, but she also took home a Moon Man when she won Best Album for Short n’ Sweet.

During her speech, Carpenter said: “Well thank you VMAs for this. This is my second Moon Man, which feels so crazy! I really don’t take for granted when you guys take the time out of your lives to listen to an album, and if I’m lucky enough that that is my album, I am so grateful … my fans are just, you’ve been there for me. So, thank you.

“And the last thing I’ll say is every artist here tonight that is nominated, that’s performing, that is just standing here looking amazing, you all mean so much to me and have inspired me so much, so thanks for letting me be in this room with you. I love you all very much.”

But the moment people can’t stop talking about is how the “Espresso” artist reacted when the nominations were announced and her video for “Please, Please, Please” played. The video features her former boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan. He and Carpenter split several months back and now, a lip-reading expert is decoding what the songbird said the moment she saw a clip of Keoghan flash as her name and album were announced.

Nicola Hickling is a lip-reading expert and the founder of LipReader, a company specializing in lipreading and expert witness reports. Hickling has spearheaded the development of innovative technologies and services that empower individuals with hearing impairments. She has also appeared in the likes of the Daily Mail, Page Six, Newsweek, and more.

Carpenter’s reaction was not shown on the TV broadcast. It was, however, captured by one of the other cameras streaming the event and many fans shared her reaction on social media as well.

Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Hickling shared with Showbiz Cheat Sheet that when the “Please, Please, Please” video was shown, Carpenter turned to her friend sitting beside and said: “That’s my ex.”