Jack Antonoff has issued a jokey apology after he was seen putting in earplugs during Katy Perry's performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

A clip showing the musician/producer stuffing plugs into his ears during Perry's turn on stage at the glitzy event in Elmont, New York went viral and Jack has now the 40-year-old star has addressed the incident in a mock statement in which he confessed to using gadgets to protect his hearing.

In the message posted on X - formerly known as Twitter - Jack wrote: " 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."

He went on to add: "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.

"It is humiliating to admit that I use them on planes and every night while sleep. There is nothing left to do but apologise 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 concluded by adding: "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.

"The band [Bleachers] and I have decided to keep all dates as scheduled."

Jack was seen partying with his pal Taylor Swift during the awards show, during which the singer scooped seven prizes.

The 2024 trophies brought her total number of VMAs gongs to 30 making her the most decorated solo artist ever ahead of Beyonce who has 25 wins as a solo artist.

Katy Perry - who was previously rumoured to have fallen out with Swift - scooped the Video Vanguard Award, which was presented to the singer by her actor fiancé Orlando Bloom.