Jack Antonoff pokes fun at criticism for wearing earplugs during Katy Perry's VMAs performance
The musician and producer sarcastically called the situation "a very important and pressing issue that needed to be exposed."
Jack Antonoff has issued a pitch-perfect response about his decision to wear earplugs at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The Bleachers musician and Grammy-winning music producer took to X (formerly Twitter) to poke fun at the online backlash that he received after he was captured on film in the audience seemingly putting earplugs into his ears during Katy Perry’s Video Vanguard performance at Wednesday's ceremony.
“I would like to tell you directly from me that I did in fact use earplugs the other night,” Antonoff confirmed. “They were blue 'hearos' brand and I’m mortified to admit that I’ve been using them for a long time as well as buying them in bulk.”
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Kevin Mazur/Getty; Johnny Nunez/Getty
Jack Antonoff and Katy PerryRelated: 2024 MTV VMAs winners: See the full list
In fact, the 40-year-old noted that he uses them in more than just "100 plus DB environments," too.
“It is humiliating to admit that I use them on planes and every night while sleep,” Antonoff quipped. “There is nothing left to do but apologize and thank those who have covered this story because although it’s an embarrassment to my family and I, I do believe that this was a very important and pressing issue that needed to be exposed.”
He concluded, “I’m sorry to those I let down and today I will not being going to work and instead thinking about my earplug use and everyone that has been affected by it. The band and I have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.”
The "Rollercoaster" singer also shared his statement on his Instagram Story, where he included a photo of a bag of blue ear plugs.
Antonoff was seated next to his wife Margaret Qualley and frequent collaborator Taylor Swift at the ceremony. In the aftermath of the event, TMZ reported that his decision to protect his hearing had irritated Perry's fans, with one fan calling the move "disrespectful." Others, however, came to Antonoff's defense, with one user writing, "the fact that y’all are bullying jack antonoff for wearing earplugs when in reality every. single. person. in. that. stadium. needed. to. be. wearing. them."
i would like to tell you directly from me that i did in fact use earplugs the other night. they were blue ‘hearos’ brand and im mortified to admit that i’ve been using them for a long time as well as buying them in bulk. i would also like to be honest and get ahead of that fact-
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024
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The criticism toward Antonoff appears to be related to Perry and Swift's past feud, despite the fact that the songstresses have both appeared to put any bad blood behind them in recent years.
In 2019, the "Roar" singer made a surprise cameo in Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" music video, where they exchanged a hug while dressed in cheeseburger and fries costumes. Swift also sent Perry and partner Orlando Bloom a hand-sewn blanket in celebration of their daughter Daisy’s birth in 2020.
The pair also appeared to be all smiles when they reunited at Swift’s Eras Tour earlier this year, with Perry captioning her Instagram post, "Got to see an old friend shine tonight."
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