Jack Antonoff explains why he keeps performing love songs about ex Margaret Qualley
Jack Antonoff said he will continue to include songs about his former wife Margaret Qualley in his shows, describing the decision as an honest connection with his audience.
Jack Antonoff, frontman of Bleachers and producer for artists such as Taylor Swift, said he will keep performing songs that reference his former wife, actress Margaret Qualley, despite their July divorce after three years of marriage. The musician explained that he considered removing the tracks from his setlist but decided against it, feeling a responsibility to be truthful with his audience.
"I sat long and hard with it and thought, ‘If I change the setlist …’ and in my gut there was a unanimous jury that said, ‘No, this is the deal. The deal I’ve made with my audience is that I’m going to tell you honestly how I feel,’" Antonoff told the Guardian.
He added that performing the love songs has been "really beautiful," allowing fans to understand the emotions behind the music. Antonoff said he does not intend to rewrite his past, stating that singing about his experiences helps him avoid ignoring any difficult moments.
"I don’t rewrite the past, I have no shame about the things I’ve said. My life has been dedicated to making it impossible for me to rewrite the past," he said.
When a concertgoer asked him to play another Bleachers love song, Antonoff responded with a laugh and declined, urging the audience to "read the news, brother." Representatives for Qualley issued a statement denying any allegations of infidelity, calling press narratives about the couple "categorically untrue" and affirming that there were no trust issues in the relationship.