Jack Antonoff Discusses Performing Songs About Ex Margaret Qualley
The Grammy-winning producer described the experience as "really beautiful" despite the initial "worry."
Jack Antonoff has shared his perspective on performing songs about his ex-girlfriend, Margaret Qualley, describing the experience as "really beautiful."
The musician, 42, admitted in an interview with The Guardian that he was initially "worried" about singing material inspired by Qualley, 32, after their split earlier this year. After considerable thought about altering his Bleachers setlist for the band's tour, Antonoff decided against it.
"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 and I’m going to risk at any moment having to stand behind it for f–king ever,'" he stated.
Antonoff believes there is "great power" in sharing "terrible sadness and pain... anyone can relate to." He elaborated that the experience has been "really beautiful" as audiences connect with the music, understanding the personal significance while also finding their own meaning.
"I mean, for people to come together, to know what I write a song about, to know how that must feel for me now, to know what that song means to you as an audience member, to just hold it all and sort of celebrate," he said.
Ultimately, Antonoff expressed a preference for experiencing difficult moments publicly over trying to escape them privately. "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 explained. "I’m standing there, singing about how I felt during the good times, so when the bad times hit I can’t look myself in the mirror and pretend that those times didn’t exist."
News of Antonoff and Qualley's separation surfaced in July, after nearly three years of marriage. The couple, who began dating in 2021, married in New Jersey in August 2023. Qualley's representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Antonoff had previously made a brief, joking reference to the breakup during a September performance, responding to a fan's request for the song "Let's Get Married" by saying, "Absolutely not. Read the news, brother."
Sources indicated in July that the former couple had "no plans to reconcile," though they reportedly remained in communication and respectful of one another.