diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/plugin/field/CommentFieldButton.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/plugin/field/CommentFieldButton.tsx
index 078d3e66cd6..74b078d546f 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/plugin/field/CommentFieldButton.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/plugin/field/CommentFieldButton.tsx
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ interface CommentFieldButtonProps {
   onClick?: () => void
   onCommentAdd: () => void
   onDiscard: () => void
+  onInputKeyDown?: (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   open: boolean
   setOpen: (open: boolean) => void
   value: CommentMessage
@@ -74,11 +75,11 @@ export function CommentFieldButton(props: CommentFieldButtonProps) {
     onClick,
     onCommentAdd,
     onDiscard,
+    onInputKeyDown,
     open,
     setOpen,
     value,
   } = props
-  const [mentionMenuOpen, setMentionMenuOpen] = useState<boolean>(false)
   const [popoverElement, setPopoverElement] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
   const commentInputHandle = useRef<CommentInputHandle | null>(null)
   const hasComments = Boolean(count > 0)
@@ -93,15 +94,31 @@ export function CommentFieldButton(props: CommentFieldButtonProps) {
   const hasValue = useMemo(() => hasCommentMessageValue(value), [value])
 
   const startDiscard = useCallback(() => {
-    if (mentionMenuOpen) return
-
     if (!hasValue) {
       closePopover()
       return
     }
 
     commentInputHandle.current?.discardDialogController.open()
-  }, [closePopover, hasValue, mentionMenuOpen])
+  }, [closePopover, hasValue])
+
+  const handleInputKeyDown = useCallback(
+    (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => {
+      // Don't act if the input already prevented this event
+      if (event.isDefaultPrevented()) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Discard the input text
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        event.stopPropagation()
+        startDiscard()
+      }
+      // Call parent handler
+      if (onInputKeyDown) onInputKeyDown(event)
+    },
+    [onInputKeyDown, startDiscard],
+  )
 
   const handleDiscardCancel = useCallback(() => {
     commentInputHandle.current?.discardDialogController.close()
@@ -132,8 +149,7 @@ export function CommentFieldButton(props: CommentFieldButtonProps) {
           onChange={onChange}
           onDiscardCancel={handleDiscardCancel}
           onDiscardConfirm={handleDiscardConfirm}
-          onEscapeKeyDown={startDiscard}
-          onMentionMenuOpenChange={setMentionMenuOpen}
+          onKeyDown={handleInputKeyDown}
           onSubmit={handleSubmit}
           placeholder={placeholder}
           readOnly={isRunningSetup}
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItem.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItem.tsx
index 8f78bafd829..5a40d7f9416 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItem.tsx
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ interface CommentsListItemProps {
   onCreateRetry: (id: string) => void
   onDelete: (id: string) => void
   onEdit: (id: string, payload: CommentEditPayload) => void
+  onKeyDown?: (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onPathSelect?: (path: Path) => void
   onReply: (payload: CommentCreatePayload) => void
   onStatusChange?: (id: string, status: CommentStatus) => void
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
     onCreateRetry,
     onDelete,
     onEdit,
+    onKeyDown,
     onPathSelect,
     onReply,
     onStatusChange,
@@ -141,14 +143,37 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
     replyInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.open()
   }, [hasValue])
 
+  const handleInputKeyDown = useCallback(
+    (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => {
+      // Don't act if the input already prevented this event
+      if (event.isDefaultPrevented()) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Discard input text with Escape
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        event.stopPropagation()
+        startDiscard()
+      }
+      // TODO: this would be cool
+      // Edit last comment if current user is the owner and pressing arrowUp
+      // if (event.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+      //   const lastReply = replies.splice(-1)[0]
+      //   if (lastReply?.authorId === currentUser.id && !hasValue) {
+      //
+      //   }
+      // }
+    },
+    [startDiscard],
+  )
+
   const cancelDiscard = useCallback(() => {
     replyInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.close()
   }, [])
 
   const confirmDiscard = useCallback(() => {
-    replyInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.close()
-    replyInputRef.current?.reset()
     setValue(EMPTY_ARRAY)
+    replyInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.close()
     replyInputRef.current?.focus()
   }, [])
 
@@ -197,6 +222,7 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
             hasError={reply._state?.type === 'createError'}
             isRetrying={reply._state?.type === 'createRetrying'}
             mentionOptions={mentionOptions}
+            onInputKeyDown={handleInputKeyDown}
             onCopyLink={onCopyLink}
             onCreateRetry={onCreateRetry}
             onDelete={onDelete}
@@ -207,6 +233,7 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
       )),
     [
       currentUser,
+      handleInputKeyDown,
       mentionOptions,
       onCopyLink,
       onCreateRetry,
@@ -247,6 +274,7 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
               onCreateRetry={onCreateRetry}
               onDelete={onDelete}
               onEdit={onEdit}
+              onInputKeyDown={onKeyDown}
               onStatusChange={onStatusChange}
               readOnly={readOnly}
             />
@@ -269,7 +297,6 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
           )}
 
           {renderedReplies}
-
           {canReply && (
             <CommentInput
               currentUser={currentUser}
@@ -278,7 +305,7 @@ export const CommentsListItem = React.memo(function CommentsListItem(props: Comm
               onChange={setValue}
               onDiscardCancel={cancelDiscard}
               onDiscardConfirm={confirmDiscard}
-              onEscapeKeyDown={startDiscard}
+              onKeyDown={handleInputKeyDown}
               onSubmit={handleReplySubmit}
               placeholder="Reply"
               readOnly={readOnly}
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItemLayout.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItemLayout.tsx
index b74f99f7da9..553c74e3236 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItemLayout.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CommentsListItemLayout.tsx
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ interface CommentsListItemLayoutProps {
   onCreateRetry?: (id: string) => void
   onDelete: (id: string) => void
   onEdit: (id: string, message: CommentEditPayload) => void
+  onInputKeyDown?: (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onStatusChange?: (id: string, status: CommentStatus) => void
   readOnly?: boolean
 }
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
     onCreateRetry,
     onDelete,
     onEdit,
+    onInputKeyDown,
     onStatusChange,
     readOnly,
   } = props
@@ -146,7 +148,6 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
   const [value, setValue] = useState<CommentMessage>(message)
   const [isEditing, setIsEditing] = useState<boolean>(false)
   const [rootElement, setRootElement] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
-  const [mentionMenuOpen, setMentionMenuOpen] = useState<boolean>(false)
   const startMessage = useRef<CommentMessage>(message)
   const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState<boolean>(false)
 
@@ -184,10 +185,27 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
       cancelEdit()
       return
     }
-
     commentInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.open()
   }, [cancelEdit, hasChanges, hasValue])
 
+  const handleInputKeyDown = useCallback(
+    (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => {
+      // Don't act if the input already prevented this event
+      if (event.isDefaultPrevented()) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Discard the input text
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        event.stopPropagation()
+        startDiscard()
+      }
+      // Call parent handler
+      if (onInputKeyDown) onInputKeyDown(event)
+    },
+    [onInputKeyDown, startDiscard],
+  )
+
   const cancelDiscard = useCallback(() => {
     commentInputRef.current?.discardDialogController.close()
   }, [])
@@ -215,7 +233,7 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
   })
 
   useGlobalKeyDown((event) => {
-    if (event.key === 'Escape' && !mentionMenuOpen && !hasChanges) {
+    if (event.key === 'Escape' && !hasChanges) {
       cancelEdit()
     }
   })
@@ -223,7 +241,6 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
   useClickOutside(() => {
     if (!hasChanges) {
       cancelEdit()
-      commentInputRef.current?.blur()
     }
   }, [rootElement])
 
@@ -294,8 +311,7 @@ export function CommentsListItemLayout(props: CommentsListItemLayoutProps) {
                 onChange={setValue}
                 onDiscardCancel={cancelDiscard}
                 onDiscardConfirm={confirmDiscard}
-                onEscapeKeyDown={startDiscard}
-                onMentionMenuOpenChange={setMentionMenuOpen}
+                onKeyDown={handleInputKeyDown}
                 onSubmit={handleEditSubmit}
                 readOnly={readOnly}
                 ref={commentInputRef}
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CreateNewThreadInput.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CreateNewThreadInput.tsx
index 5c7ae788853..44cb74133e0 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CreateNewThreadInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/list/CreateNewThreadInput.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ interface CreateNewThreadInputProps {
   fieldName: string
   mentionOptions: MentionOptionsHookValue
   onBlur?: CommentInputProps['onBlur']
-  onEditDiscard?: () => void
   onFocus?: CommentInputProps['onFocus']
+  onKeyDown?: (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onNewThreadCreate: (payload: CommentMessage) => void
   readOnly?: boolean
 }
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ export function CreateNewThreadInput(props: CreateNewThreadInputProps) {
     fieldName,
     mentionOptions,
     onBlur,
-    onEditDiscard,
     onFocus,
+    onKeyDown,
     onNewThreadCreate,
     readOnly,
   } = props
@@ -40,20 +40,34 @@ export function CreateNewThreadInput(props: CreateNewThreadInputProps) {
 
   const startDiscard = useCallback(() => {
     if (!hasValue) {
-      onEditDiscard?.()
       return
     }
-
     commentInputHandle.current?.discardDialogController.open()
-  }, [hasValue, onEditDiscard])
+  }, [hasValue])
+
+  const handleInputKeyDown = useCallback(
+    (event: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => {
+      // Don't act if the input already prevented this event
+      if (event.isDefaultPrevented()) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Discard the input text
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        event.stopPropagation()
+        startDiscard()
+      }
+      // Call parent handler
+      if (onKeyDown) onKeyDown(event)
+    },
+    [onKeyDown, startDiscard],
+  )
 
   const confirmDiscard = useCallback(() => {
     setValue(EMPTY_ARRAY)
-    commentInputHandle.current?.reset()
     commentInputHandle.current?.discardDialogController.close()
     commentInputHandle.current?.focus()
-    onEditDiscard?.()
-  }, [onEditDiscard])
+  }, [])
 
   const cancelDiscard = useCallback(() => {
     commentInputHandle.current?.discardDialogController.close()
@@ -74,7 +88,7 @@ export function CreateNewThreadInput(props: CreateNewThreadInputProps) {
       onChange={setValue}
       onDiscardCancel={cancelDiscard}
       onDiscardConfirm={confirmDiscard}
-      onEscapeKeyDown={startDiscard}
+      onKeyDown={handleInputKeyDown}
       onFocus={onFocus}
       onSubmit={handleSubmit}
       placeholder={placeholder}
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInput.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInput.tsx
index 844d6e0a1d4..6714fc76134 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInput.tsx
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ export interface CommentInputProps {
   onChange: (value: PortableTextBlock[]) => void
   onDiscardCancel: () => void
   onDiscardConfirm: () => void
-  onEscapeKeyDown?: () => void
   onFocus?: (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void
+  onKeyDown?: (e: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onMentionMenuOpenChange?: (open: boolean) => void
   onSubmit: () => void
   placeholder?: React.ReactNode
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ export const CommentInput = forwardRef<CommentInputHandle, CommentInputProps>(
       onChange,
       onDiscardCancel,
       onDiscardConfirm,
-      onEscapeKeyDown,
       onFocus,
+      onKeyDown,
       onMentionMenuOpenChange,
       onSubmit,
       placeholder,
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ export const CommentInput = forwardRef<CommentInputHandle, CommentInputProps>(
       scrollToEditor()
     }, [onSubmit, requestFocus, resetEditorInstance, scrollToEditor])
 
+    const handleDiscardConfirm = useCallback(() => {
+      onDiscardConfirm()
+      resetEditorInstance()
+    }, [onDiscardConfirm, resetEditorInstance])
+
     // The way a user a comment can be discarded varies from the context it is used in.
     // This controller is used to take care of the main logic of the discard process, while
     // specific behavior is handled by the consumer.
@@ -156,20 +161,18 @@ export const CommentInput = forwardRef<CommentInputHandle, CommentInputProps>(
             }
           },
           scrollTo: scrollToEditor,
-          reset: () => {
-            setEditorInstanceKey(keyGenerator())
-          },
+          reset: resetEditorInstance,
 
           discardDialogController,
         }
       },
-      [discardDialogController, requestFocus, scrollToEditor],
+      [discardDialogController, requestFocus, resetEditorInstance, scrollToEditor],
     )
 
     return (
       <>
         {showDiscardDialog && (
-          <CommentInputDiscardDialog onClose={onDiscardCancel} onConfirm={onDiscardConfirm} />
+          <CommentInputDiscardDialog onClose={onDiscardCancel} onConfirm={handleDiscardConfirm} />
         )}
 
         <Stack ref={editorContainerRef} data-testid="comment-input">
@@ -199,8 +202,8 @@ export const CommentInput = forwardRef<CommentInputHandle, CommentInputProps>(
                   currentUser={currentUser}
                   focusLock={focusLock}
                   onBlur={onBlur}
-                  onEscapeKeyDown={onEscapeKeyDown}
                   onFocus={onFocus}
+                  onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
                   onSubmit={handleSubmit}
                   placeholder={placeholder}
                   withAvatar={withAvatar}
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputInner.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputInner.tsx
index 7ccc344e926..04fcd29288b 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputInner.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputInner.tsx
@@ -77,36 +77,20 @@ interface CommentInputInnerProps {
   currentUser: CurrentUser
   focusLock?: boolean
   onBlur?: (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void
-  onEscapeKeyDown?: () => void
   onFocus?: (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void
+  onKeyDown?: (e: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onSubmit: () => void
   placeholder?: React.ReactNode
   withAvatar?: boolean
 }
 
 export function CommentInputInner(props: CommentInputInnerProps) {
-  const {
-    currentUser,
-    focusLock,
-    onBlur,
-    onEscapeKeyDown,
-    onFocus,
-    onSubmit,
-    placeholder,
-    withAvatar,
-  } = props
+  const {currentUser, focusLock, onBlur, onFocus, onKeyDown, onSubmit, placeholder, withAvatar} =
+    props
 
   const [user] = useUser(currentUser.id)
-  const {
-    canSubmit,
-    expandOnFocus,
-    focused,
-    hasChanges,
-    insertAtChar,
-    mentionsMenuOpen,
-    openMentions,
-    readOnly,
-  } = useCommentInput()
+  const {canSubmit, expandOnFocus, focused, hasChanges, insertAtChar, openMentions, readOnly} =
+    useCommentInput()
 
   const avatar = withAvatar ? <CommentsAvatar user={user} /> : null
 
@@ -119,21 +103,8 @@ export function CommentInputInner(props: CommentInputInnerProps) {
     [insertAtChar, openMentions],
   )
 
-  const handleKeyDown = useCallback(
-    (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
-      if (e.key === 'Escape') {
-        e.stopPropagation()
-        e.preventDefault()
-        if (mentionsMenuOpen) return
-
-        onEscapeKeyDown?.()
-      }
-    },
-    [mentionsMenuOpen, onEscapeKeyDown],
-  )
-
   return (
-    <Flex align="flex-start" gap={2} onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}>
+    <Flex align="flex-start" gap={2}>
       {avatar}
 
       <RootCard
@@ -150,6 +121,7 @@ export function CommentInputInner(props: CommentInputInnerProps) {
               focusLock={focusLock}
               onBlur={onBlur}
               onFocus={onFocus}
+              onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
               onSubmit={onSubmit}
               placeholder={placeholder}
             />
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputProvider.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputProvider.tsx
index f2e7b4f7c1e..a150b45754e 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputProvider.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/CommentInputProvider.tsx
@@ -73,16 +73,14 @@ export function CommentInputProvider(props: CommentInputProviderProps) {
     setMentionsMenuOpen(false)
     setMentionsSearchTerm('')
     setSelectionAtMentionInsert(null)
-    focusEditor()
-  }, [focusEditor])
+  }, [])
 
   const openMentions = useCallback(() => {
     setMentionsMenuOpen(true)
     setMentionsSearchTerm('')
     setMentionsMenuOpen(true)
     setSelectionAtMentionInsert(PortableTextEditor.getSelection(editor))
-    focusEditor()
-  }, [focusEditor, editor])
+  }, [editor])
 
   // This function activates or deactivates the mentions menu and updates
   // the mention search term when the user types into the Portable Text Editor.
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/Editable.tsx b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/Editable.tsx
index 3f587eab15c..0688f4c4f44 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/Editable.tsx
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/desk/comments/src/components/pte/comment-input/Editable.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ interface EditableProps {
   focusLock?: boolean
   onBlur?: (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void
   onFocus?: (e: React.FormEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => void
+  onKeyDown?: (e: React.KeyboardEvent<Element>) => void
   onSubmit?: () => void
   placeholder?: React.ReactNode
 }
@@ -62,7 +63,14 @@ export interface EditableHandle {
 }
 
 export function Editable(props: EditableProps) {
-  const {focusLock, placeholder = 'Create a new comment', onFocus, onBlur, onSubmit} = props
+  const {
+    focusLock,
+    placeholder = 'Create a new comment',
+    onFocus,
+    onBlur,
+    onKeyDown,
+    onSubmit,
+  } = props
   const [popoverElement, setPopoverElement] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
   const rootElementRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
   const editableRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null)
@@ -72,7 +80,6 @@ export function Editable(props: EditableProps) {
   const {
     canSubmit,
     closeMentions,
-    focusEditor,
     insertMention,
     mentionOptions,
     mentionsMenuOpen,
@@ -145,14 +152,18 @@ export function Editable(props: EditableProps) {
         case 'ArrowLeft':
         case 'ArrowRight':
           if (mentionsMenuOpen) {
+            // stop these events if the menu is open
+            event.preventDefault()
+            event.stopPropagation()
             closeMentions()
-            focusEditor()
           }
           break
         default:
       }
+      // Call parent key handler
+      if (onKeyDown) onKeyDown(event)
     },
-    [canSubmit, closeMentions, focusEditor, mentionsMenuOpen, onSubmit],
+    [canSubmit, closeMentions, mentionsMenuOpen, onKeyDown, onSubmit],
   )
 
   const initialSelectionAtEndOfContent: EditorSelection | undefined = useMemo(() => {