Jack Antonoff Addresses Using Earplugs During Katy Perry's Performance

Originally appeared on E! Online

Jack Antonoff is tuning out the noise, literally.

The Bleachers singer and music producer set the record straight after he was seen putting what was assumed to be airpods in his ears during Katy Perry’s Video Vanguard performance at the 2024 MTV VMAs on Sept. 11.

“I would like to tell you directly from me that I did in fact use earplugs the other night,” Taylor Swift’s longtime collaborator wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sept. 12. “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.”

The 40-year-old decided to poke fun at those who dissected the moment online, which was caught on camera. Noting that he uses the earplugs on planes and every night when going to bed, 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.”

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During the annual awards show—hosted by Megan Thee Stallion—Antonoff and his wife Margaret Qualley were seated next to Swift, whose dance moves were regularly featured in audience reaction shots.

After clips surfaced of the moment online, some fans presumed that Antonoff was placing something in his ears to block out Perry’s performance after her past feud with Swift. However, Perry has since extended a literal olive branch to Swift and even attended an Australian date of her Eras tour. Throughout Perry’s performance, Swift was spotted dancing and clapping for the pop star.

Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley, Taylor Swift, Suki Waterhouse and Tyla
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Continuing in his faux apology, the former Fun. member wrote, “I’m sorry to those I let down and today I will not be going to work and instead thinking about my earplug use and everyone that has been affected by it. The band I have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.”

For more candid moments from the VMAs, read on.

Addison Rae

<p>Addison Rae</p>
Jeff Kravitz / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom

<p>Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom</p>
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage


Sabrina Carpenter

<p>Sabrina Carpenter</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Taylor Swift & Post Malone

<p>Taylor Swift & Post Malone</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Megan Thee Stallion

<p>Megan Thee Stallion</p>
Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock


Katy Perry

<p>Katy Perry</p>
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV


Tate McRae

<p>Tate McRae</p>
John Nacion/Getty Images for MTV


GloRilla & Camila Cabello

<p>GloRilla & Camila Cabello</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Chappell Roan & Shaboozey

<p>Chappell Roan & Shaboozey</p>
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images


Alessandra Ambrosio

<p>Alessandra Ambrosio</p>
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images


Paris Hilton & Camila Cabello

<p>Paris Hilton & Camila Cabello</p>
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV


Lil Nas X & Coco Jones

<p>Lil Nas X & Coco Jones</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Eminem

<p>Eminem</p>
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images


Margaret Qualley & Jack Antonoff

<p>Margaret Qualley & Jack Antonoff</p>

Margaret Qualley & Jack Antonoff


Lenny Kravitz

<p>Lenny Kravitz</p>
Roy Rochlin / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Cyndi Lauper

<p>Cyndi Lauper</p>
Roy Rochlin / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES; Jeff Kravitz / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Karol G & Taylor Swift

<p>Karol G & Taylor Swift</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES


Flavor Flav & Jordan Chiles

<p>Flavor Flav & Jordan Chiles</p>
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock


French Montana & Sabrina Carpenter

<p>French Montana & Sabrina Carpenter</p>
Christopher Polk / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES