Jack antinoff is clapping back at the backlash he's receiving for wearing earplugs during the MTV Video Music Awards the bleacher singer and music producer is setting the record straight after he was seen putting what was assumed to be airpods in his ears during Katy Perry's video Vanguard performance at the 2024 MTV VMAs in New York on September 11th the longtime Taylor Swift collaborator takes to X formerly Twitter saying quote I would like to tell you directly from me that I did in fact use earplugs the other night they were blue Heroes brand and I'm mortified to admit that I've been using them for a long time as well as buying them in bulk after clips surfaced of the moment online some fans presumed that Jack was placing something in his ears to block out Katie's performance after her past Feud with Taylor however Katie has since extended a literal Olive Branch to Taylor and even attended an Australian date of her era tour Taylor and Jack are not only collaborators but close friends with the reputation singer attending Jack's New Jersey wedding to Margaret quali Last Summer Jack decided to poke fun at those who dissected the VMA moment online which was caught on camera noting that he uses the earplugs on planes and every night when going to bed Jack writes quote 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 he adds at the end of his statement that he was sorry to those he let down he quips quote today I will not be going to work and instead thinking about my ear plug use and everyone that has been affected by it teasing that following this incident he and the rest of his band have quote decided to keep all dates as scheduled fans on EG jumped to his defense with one writing quote how dare you a music producer use earplugs to protect your hearing another writes thanks for promoting proper concert ear safety [Music]