Dylan O’Brien responds to Sabrina Carpenter lyric speculation in Go Go Juice

Dylan O’Brien has publicly addressed speculation that Sabrina Carpenter references him in her new song Go Go Juice, a single from her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend. Carpenter’s track has sparked chatter among fans who have parsed the lines for possible nods to former flames, including the actor who briefly dated Carpenter in 2022 when the two were seen kissing in New York City.

In the song, Carpenter includes a verse that reads, in part: “I’m just drinking to call someone / Ain’t nobody’s safe when I’m a little bit drunk / Could be John or Larry, gosh, who’s to say? / Or the one that rhymes with villain if I’m feelin’ that way.” Fans quickly circulated theories linking the placeholders to real-life figures: John as Shawn Mendes, Larry as Barry Keoghan, gosh as Joshua Bassett, and villain as a potential reference to O’Brien. The lyric sheet has prompted widespread speculation about whether the words are placeholders or pointed allusions to people in Carpenter’s orbit or past relationships.

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Dylan O’Brien addressed the chatter on an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, saying he wasn’t aware of the theory that Carpenter could be naming him in the song. “Oh, and my name rhymes with villain. Well, she never drunk dialed me,” he quipped, prompting Cohen to observe that the actor’s house, not his mobile reception, might be the more relevant obstacle. “My house does not have good service. Yeah, you have to get me by FaceTime audio,” O’Brien replied, in a lighthearted exchange that underscored the playful nature of the moment rather than a feud or grievance.

Carpenter has herself been coy about the song’s inspiration. During a CBS Mornings appearance with Gayle King, she said it’s “more fun to picture the person in their head than the person I picture in my head,” signaling that she prefers imagination to direct confirmation when it comes to who might be in her lyrics. The singer has also engaged with ongoing discussion about how her music blends bold, provocative imagery with themes of empowerment and fun on stage and in interviews.

Beyond the lyric chatter, Carpenter has drawn attention for the racy framing of Man’s Best Friend’s cover art. The initial artwork featured Carpenter on all fours in a black mini dress, with a nameless man cupping her hair. She has defended the choice as a deliberate departure from what she’s described as pearl-clutching sensibilities, saying, “It is not for the pearl-clutchers. The album is not for any pearl-clutchers, no.” The image and the surrounding conversation reflect a broader debate about female sexuality in pop music and how artists balance provocative visuals with personal agency.

While the fan theories have generated social-media buzz, neither Carpenter nor O’Brien has publicly confirmed any real-life connection implied by the lyrics. The two were briefly linked in 2022 in New York, but they were not in a long-term relationship, and there has been no verified reporting connecting either man to the names fans have debated in Go Go Juice. The song remains a single on Man’s Best Friend, which is slated to drop this Friday, with audiences likely to parse the lyrics anew as the album release approaches.

The conversation around Go Go Juice sits within a broader arc of Carpenter’s recent work, which has included public discussions about her provocative artistic choices and her stance toward critics who challenge a bold persona in music. As fans and critics weigh the track’s clever wordplay against the reality of the artist’s intent, the focus remains on the music itself—catchy hooks, confident delivery, and a blend of humor and bite that Carpenter has used to carve out a distinct space in contemporary pop culture.

As the album release nears, listeners will have more context to judge whether the alleged references are clever wordplay or signaling something more personal. In the meantime, Carpenter continues to push boundaries with unapologetic artistry, while O’Brien’s response to the lyric speculation underscores a lighthearted approach to a moment that has captured fans’ imaginations. The Go Go Juice conversation, tied to Man’s Best Friend, reflects how fans engage with pop music today: by decoding lyrics, speculating about real-life connections, and watching public figures navigate the lines between art and life.