Jack Antonoff has shared a tongue-in-cheek quip following claims that he put Airpods in during Katy Perry’s VMAs performance.
The moment took place at the 2024 MTV VMAs on Wednesday (September 11), where Perry was presented with the coveted Video Vanguard Award and took to the stage to perform a medley of her most famous hits, as well as a new song from her upcoming album ‘143’.
These included elaborate renditions of ‘E.T’, ‘Dark Horse’, ‘I Kissed A Girl’, ‘California Gurls’ and more, as well as recent single ‘Lifelines’ and the upcoming track she had announced with Doechii called ‘I’m His, He’s Mine’.
However, footage of the audience during the set caught the attention of some fans, as Bleachers frontman and producer was seen picking up his bag and putting something into his ears. He was stood by actor Margaret Qualley and pop icon Taylor Swift during the performance, and seen putting what some fans thought were Airpods in midway through the set.
“Jack Antonoff putting on airpods during Katy’s performance… what a disgusting man,” one fan wrote on X/Twitter, sharing the clip, before a correction was quickly added that he was actually wearing earplugs designed to protect hearing at concerts and loud events.
jack antonoff putting on airpods during katy’s performance… what a disgusting man pic.twitter.com/vf8p7JKn83
— 𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓁 (@_teenageheart_) September 12, 2024
Now, Antonoff has shared a response to the accusations, and joked that he will still be going ahead with all of his scheduled live shows despite the controversy.
Taking to X, he wrote: “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.”
He also went on to sarcastically quip that he wanted to “apologise” for the “pressing issue that needed to be exposed: “i would also like to be honest and get ahead of that fact that i do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments. it is humiliating to admit that i use them on planes and every night while sleep,” he added.
“There is nothing left to do but apologise 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.
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
that i do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments. it is humiliating to admit that i use them on planes and every night while sleep. there is nothing left to do but apologize and thank those who have covered this story because although it’s an embarrassment to my-
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024
family and i, i do believe that this was a very important and pressing issue that needed to be exposed. 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.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024
“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” he concluded, before sharing: “The band and i have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.”
the band and i have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 12, 2024
The news comes shortly after the artist and producer made a surprise appearance at Taylor Swift‘s final ‘Eras’ show in London earlier this summer. It took place last month during the final of the five consecutive ‘Eras Tour’ shows at the iconic London stadium – which also marked the final night of the colossal tour’s European leg.
Before then, he joined forces with Sabrina Carpenter to perform a new track, ‘Slim Pickins’, at the Grammy Museum earlier in the month.
Elsewhere at the VMAs, Katy Perry used her acceptance speech to thank MTV “for believing in my weirdness from day one and for helping artists extend their worlds beyond a song”. She also shared her gratitude to her friends, family and team, as well as reflecting on the early days of her career.
“There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents,” she added (via Rolling Stone). “Thank you to the friends who were there when my Jetta was repossessed, my KatyCats, who stood by for a lifetime, and the LGBTQ community who I recognise I would not be here without, and who show me that you can be both kind and c***.”
Her last studio album, ‘Smile’, came out in 2020. NME reviewed the LP at the time, giving it two stars. “It’s frustrating, as this is the woman behind some of the most fun – and biggest-selling – songs of all time,” it read. “But as much as you want ‘Smile’ to be a return to form, her fifth album’s songs fail to grip. All in all, ‘Smile’ lacks the fireworks of Perry’s record-breaking years.”
Her upcoming album, ‘143’, is due for release on September 20 (pre-order here) and was first previewed with the divisive lead single ‘Woman’s World’, which the pop star didn’t include in the VMA set.
