Jack Antonoff addresses earplug controversy at 2024 MTV VMAs after backlash

Jack Antonoff had a laugh about the buzz he caused at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards for wearing earplugs during Katy Perry 's set.

The musician, who attended the star-studded bash with his wife Margaret Qualley, was caught on camera popping in some ear protection, sparking wild fan theories online that he was throwing shade at Perry's tunes.

Clearing the air in a chat with X on Thursday, the Bleachers frontman came clean about his earplug game. He quipped: "I would like to tell you directly from me that I did in fact use earplugs the other night.

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"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.", he said, reports the Express US , "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 (decibel) environments."

In a self-deprecating twist, he confessed: "It is humiliating to admit that I use them on planes and every night while sleep."

Jack didn't shy away from expressing his embarrassment, stating: "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."

The singer even tossed in a cheeky sorry to anyone miffed by his earplug etiquette. The musician said: "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 and I have decided to keep all dates as scheduled," he jokingly added.

Meanwhile, Jack won big at the award show, as he produced the song "Fortnight," for Taylor Swift and Post Malone. The video for the hit song from Taylor's The Tortured Poets Department album racked up nine nominations and snagged five awards, notably scoring the coveted Video of the Year trophy.

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