Paul Mescal is clearing the air in regards to certain rumors about his dating habits.

The Gladiator II star got candid in a newly released cover interview for GQ‘s November issue, laughing when the interviewer brought up rumors that previously circulated about him having one-night stands and then running off the next morning while his partner was distracted.

Calling the rumors “categorically untrue,” Paul, 28, told GQ that he and his siblings were “pissing ourselves” and “laughing, laughing, laughing” watching social media videos about the rumor.

But it was a different matter when it came to one person in his family: his mom, Dearbhla Mescal.

“The one thing that upset me was that I was in the kitchen, I remember my mum looking at the videos and she was getting upset,” he explained. “Isn’t that devastating?”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

But the videos were “funny” to himself and his brother and sister, “because we know that this is the way the internet works. It’s hilarious. If it was true, it’d be f—ing bad, but as a rumor, it’s funny.”

However, he says, “Then I was like, Oh, if you’re a mother, her impulse is to come out and be like, ‘He wouldn’t do this,’ ” said the Irish actor, who is currently dating Gracie Abrams.

Paul also touched on his desire to keep his personal life private, telling the magazine he has “learned that there’s certain lines in the sand now for me that just are going to be impenetrable for the benefit of my own sanity.”

“I mean, the speculation has been kind of mad for the last x amount of years,” continued the Normal People star. “I’m not comfortable inviting any access into that part of my life. How I am in my private life is so precious to me because I get very little of it, and it might be public interest, but it’s not public-obligated information.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Paul has previously opened up about his family, revealing on BBC Radio 4’s Today in February 2023 that his Academy Award nomination, for his movie Aftersun, “has given my family a very welcome respite” amid “stuff going on at home that is difficult.”

His comments came after his younger sister, Nell Mescal, posted following her brother’s big news, “My mum got a haircut today in prep for her chemotherapy and then paul got nominated for an oscar life is so crazy.”

More recently, Dearbhla, 55, shared an update about her cancer journey on Instagram this past June, writing in a video-post caption, “I AM IN REMISSION!!! I am Blessed.”

“The love of my children, my husband, my family & dearest friends, the audience of you, the prayers of so many, the vibes sent out to the universe carried me through the hard times & lifted me when I truly felt done in,” she also wrote. “My cup runneth over & my heart will forever hold yours. Thank you … now guys what’s next ???”