Online reviewers have blasted Jack Antonoff for being caught on camera sticking something in his ears during Katy Perry’s VMAs performance.
Video that was posted on X, now known as Twitter, shows Antonoff, 40, standing and putting his arm around his 29-year-old wife Margaret Qualley.
Antonoff is seen putting his hands to his ears as everyone else in the audience, including Suki Waterhouse, Tyla, and Taylor Swift, dances to Katy Perry’s performance.
In a different video, he and Qualley remained motionless with the music producer’s arm securely around her waist, as Swift stood next to them and joyfully sang along to Perry’s California Gurls.
In another video, Qualley was standing next to Swift and Waterhouse, holding her clutch while they danced to Dark Horse. Antonoff was rummaging behind him, getting up, and putting something in his ears.
Soon after noticing the strange behaviour, critics took to the internet to share their views. Some suggested that he was actually listening to something on his AirPods instead of Perry’s performance.
While accepting the Video Vanguard award, Perry was commemorating her legacy.
A user angrily posted a video of the group in the crowd along with the comment, “THAT man is so disgustingly disrespectful holding your wife from dancing to someone and having AirPods during their performance from a one-sided beef while they’ve never acknowledged you neither in person or in public.”
Regarding Qualley’s rigid posture, a member on the social media site said, “I just know she wanted to dance so bad.”
Others supported the producer’s conduct, pointing out that it’s customary for music producers to protect their hearing at loud events by donning earplugs.
As a responsible musician or anybody attending a noisy event in general, you should safeguard your hearing by wearing earplugs, which resemble loop earplugs, as one astute user noted.
“And he was holding his wife like that all night,” they continued. It isn’t really profound.
He’s putting in earplugs to preserve his hearing; he’s not even wearing AirPods, dammit. Generally accepted practice at loud, large performances, particularly if you work in an environment where protecting your hearing is crucial.