Jack Antonoff Sarcastically Reacts To Backlash For Wearing Earplugs During Katy Perry's VMAs Performance!

Jack Antonoff is speaking out after he was blasted for seemingly wearing earbuds during Katy Perry‘s VMAs performance!

If you missed it, there was a viral video of the music producer that circulated after Wednesday night’s MTV awards show, where he was seen putting something in his ears while the California Gurls performer rocked out on stage. Many fans believed he was wearing AirPods to tune out the singer — you know, perhaps as a diss to the musician who used to have beef with his pal Taylor Swift. See the viral moment (below):

TAYLOR JAMMING OUT TO KATY✨

#VMAs pic.twitter.com/sRVSjc11Px

— Taylor & Travis (@TaylorxChiefs) September 12, 2024

Yeah, he wasn’t subtle at all about covering up his ears. But what was REALLY happening??

Jack actually clapped back at all the controversy on X (Twitter) on Thursday, albeit VERY sarcastically! He clarified that he was wearing earplugs during the loud concert. And he spent several posts fake apologizing for it! 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. i would also like to be honest and get ahead of that fact-“

He continued:

“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-“

The Bleachers vocalist went on:

“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.”

He jokingly ended:

“the band and i have decided to keep all dates as scheduled.”

Swifties and other fans reacted with just as much sass, writing:

“how DARE you, a music producer, use earplugs to protect your hearing?”

“Thank you for finally speaking up about this.”

“i cant believe you have the audacity to want to preserve your hearing. who do you think you are? a grammy award winning producer or something?”

“You’re so brave. Thank you for posting this”

“Concerts is one thing, Jack, but I draw the line at wearing them while asleep. Not mad, just disappointed”

LOLz!

All joking aside, the timing of him putting in the earplugs was a little sus! Like, he made it SO obvious! Besides, it’s not like it was a reach to think he was throwing shade at Katy. He’s done it before! Back in 2014, the 40-year-old called her music “throwaway” compared to the TTPD artist. And at the 2017 VMAs, he was spotted eating a banana during her intro monologue (below).

Jack Antonoff bored and eating a banana during Katy Perry's intro is all of us watching this intro. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/QXgE3H3VIM

— Hunter Ingram (@hunter_wesley) August 28, 2017

So, he shouldn’t be surprised that everyone was reading into this earplug moment!

Do y’all think there was really no shade this time around?? Or is he just trying to laugh it off because the moment went so viral? Sound OFF with your theories (below)!

[Image via Nicky Nelson/MEGA/WENN]