Jack Antonoff discusses performing songs about ex-wife Margaret Qualley

Musician Jack Antonoff, frontman of the band Bleachers, has spoken about his decision to continue performing love songs written for his former wife, actress Margaret Qualley, during his current tour. Following their separation in July 2026, Antonoff admitted to considering changes to his setlist to avoid the emotional difficulty of singing about their marriage.

In an interview with The Guardian, Antonoff explained that he chose to maintain his original setlist to honor his commitment to honesty with his audience. He stated, “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***ing ever.”

Antonoff noted that while the songs—including tracks like “Dirty Wedding Dress” and “You and Forever” from the album “Everyone for Ten Minutes”—carry themes of sadness and pain, there is also a sense of power and beauty in sharing them. He expressed that he has no shame in his past expressions of happiness and prefers to live through experiences publicly rather than escaping them privately.

While some reports suggested issues of trust contributed to the split, a representative for Qualley has disputed those claims, stating there were no trust issues and that both parties maintain deep respect for one another.