"God forbid someone protects their hearing"— Internet reacts as Jack Antonoff addresses using AirPods during Katy Perry's VMAs performance 

American singer, songwriter, and record producer Jack Antonoff recently received severe online backlash after videos of him reportedly putting in AirPods during Katy Perry’s performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards became viral.

In the wake of the widespread criticism, the Bleachers frontman took to his X account and sarcastically responded to his critics via a tweet chain.

“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 I'm 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 that i do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments,” he wrote.

Jack Antonoff further wrote that he used earplugs not just during concerts but also on flights and every night during sleep. He continued his sarcastic reply by writing:

“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. 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.”

Amid his now-viral response, the internet is having diverse reactions. For instance, X user @eggscrams shot back at fellow user @electricrafik’s post calling out Jack Antonoff.

“It was just loud… God forbid someone protects their hearing,” the person wrote.

Several others joined the conversation and shared similar reactions, pointing out that as a musician, it was important for Jack Antonoff to protect his hearing and use earplugs.

“I think he just uses earplugs. It's super loud in there, and his ears are literally his livelihood, so I'd protect mine too. It's like when parents take their kids to concerts and have them wear those big headphones to protect their eardrums from the noise?” a netizen wrote.

“He’s not wearing AirPods omg, he’s putting in earplugs to protect his hearing. pretty common practice at big loud concerts especially when you have a job where protecting your hearing is important,” one netizen wrote.

“They’re not AirPods they’re earplugs used for concerts to protect his hearing. He needs good hearing to produce music. Stop spreading misinformation,” wrote another.

Others praised Jack Antonoff for setting the record straight and prioritizing his hearing.

“Thanks for promoting proper concert ear safety, Jack bestie,” one fan wrote.

“Thank you for your bravery, Jack! Your courageous personal disclosure has inspired me to admit to my use of earplugs,” wrote another.

Meanwhile, some claimed Jack Antonoff’s actions at the VMAs and subsequent response resulted from his alleged past feud with Katy Perry.

“You literally said a lot without saying anything which makes it even worse. You don’t have to like Katy, but at least be respectful. Clapping for her had nothing to do with the earplugs that you had just saying,” an individual wrote.

“I supported you when I thought you were using them to block out Katy Perry,” another wrote.

So far, Katy Perry hasn’t commented on the matter.

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Exploring Jack Antonoff’s alleged past beef with Katy Perry

On Wednesday, September 11, Jack Antonoff was spotted enjoying Katy Perry’s show at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. He was with his wife and actress Margaret Qualley and longtime friends and collaborators Taylor Swift and Suki Waterhouse in the front row of the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.

However, during Perry’s performance of her hit 2013 song Dark Horse, the former Steel Train member was seen grabbing something and putting it inside his ears, while Swift and Waterhouse were spotted dancing. Unlike online speculations that he stuffed his ears with AirPods, Jack Antonoff cleared the air and stated he used earplugs as the concert emitted sound above 100 decimals.

Regardless, netizens claimed that Jack Antonoff’s actions stemmed from his alleged past feud with Katy Perry. In 2014, the Eras Tour headliner claimed during an interview with Rolling Stone that an unnamed singer (which many thought was Perry) “basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour” by hiring “a bunch of people out from under me.”

Subsequently, Katy responded via a cryptic tweet, “Watch out for the Regina George in sheep’s clothing,” a reference to Rachel McAdams’ role as the bully in the 2004 movie Mean Girls. In the wake of this, Swift’s friend and associate Jack Antonoff praised Taylor and seemingly disregarded Katy, among other artists, during a GQ interview.

“Taylor Swift is cool because she's the closest thing today that hearkens to Michael Jackson - to great, great pop music. There's a difference between her and Gaga and Katy Perry and Lily Allen and all that. It all feels throwaway, comparatively,” the now 40-year-old singer noted.

Later, in 2017, the Jack Antonoff image/video went viral after he was captured eating a banana and appearing bored at the VMAs, which Katy Perry hosted. Back then, it was speculated that the ongoing beef between Taylor Swift and Perry influenced his behavior.

At the time, Perry appeared on the Late Night Show with James Corden and alleged that Taylor Swift refused to bury the hatchet despite her attempt. However, in 2019, Swift and Perry reportedly made peace after the latter personally sent her a “literal olive branch and a note apologizing for my part in all of it.”

Since then, the duo has been on friendly terms, with Katy even attending the Sydney leg of the Eras Tour and Taylor grooving during the former’s recent VMAs performance.