tone deaf

Let Jack Antonoff Protect His Hearing, Damn

2024 MTV Video Music Awards - Show
Checking that her man’s earplugs are locked in. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

It should honestly be a compliment to MTV that Wednesday night’s VMA audience was so loud that Bleacher’s Jack Antonoff decided to protect his hearing by wearing earplugs to the event. But TMZ and the Daily Mail decided to see things in a different light, claiming that Antonoff was “slammed” for wearing AirPods during Katy Perry’s set, compiling complaints from X, formerly Twitter. Antonoff decided to meet his critics on their home turf, posting his own statement on the matter. “i would like to tell you directly from me that i did in fact use earplugs the other night,” Antonoff explained. “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 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.”

His break was brief, thankfully. If his biggest crime was wearing foam, it shouldn’t go to trial.

Let Jack Antonoff Protect His Hearing, Damn