Jack Antonoff faced rumors that he purposely disrespected Katy Perry during her performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards by wearing earplugs. The music producer sarcastically addressed the criticisms by revealing that he did indeed use earplugs during the performance and has been using them for a long time in loud environments, on planes, and while sleeping. Despite feeling embarrassed by the situation, he expressed his gratitude for the attention the issue received and apologized to those who may have been disappointed. He reassured fans that his upcoming performances with his band, the Bleachers, would proceed as scheduled.
After the video of Antonoff using earplugs during Perry’s performance went viral, many fans came to his defense. Some fans thanked him for promoting proper concert ear safety, while others pointed out that wearing earplugs is not a crime. The humor in Antonoff’s response to the situation was appreciated by some, with one fan sarcastically thanking him for finally speaking up about his earplug use. Despite the initial backlash, it was clear that there were supporters who understood and accepted Antonoff’s choice to wear earplugs.
While attending Perry’s performance at the VMAs alongside Taylor Swift, Suki Waterhouse, and his wife Margaret Qualley, Antonoff was seen inserting something into his ear, which was later revealed to be earplugs. Critics online labeled him as disrespectful for his actions, with some claiming that he must hate Perry to have used earplugs during her performance. The assumption of a complicated relationship between Antonoff and Perry may have stemmed from Perry’s past feud with Swift, as the two singers have had a history of conflicts and strained relations.
The beef between Perry and Swift began in 2014 when Swift accused an unnamed singer, believed to be Perry, of sabotaging her arena tour. Perry responded cryptically at the time, hinting at betrayal and referring to the conflict through a reference to “Mean Girls.” The feud escalated with Swift releasing the song “Bad Blood,” rumored to be about Perry, on her “1989” album. However, the relationship between Perry and Swift began to mend in 2019 when Perry extended an olive branch and an apology note during Swift’s “Reputation” tour, leading to a reconciliation between the two pop stars.
In the midst of the drama between Perry and Swift, Antonoff found himself in the spotlight for appearing bored and eating a banana during Perry’s hosting of the VMAs in 2017. Perry also revealed on a talk show that she had tried to make amends with Swift, but her attempts were initially rejected. Eventually, the two singers rebuilt their relationship and maintained communication through texts. Perry even attended Swift’s concert in Sydney, demonstrating that they had moved past their previous conflicts and were now on good terms. Despite the history of animosity between the two, they were able to put their differences aside and establish a positive relationship.
