JUNOS DROP HEDLEY OVER MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS.

Triple nominees won’t perform at awards bash

The Junos have dropped Hedley from the televised awards bash as the B.C. rockers face allegations of sexual misconduct that they call “unsubstantiated.”

Organizers of the annual music show say it was a joint decision with Hedley “after careful consideration of the situation.”

The move by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences came as band members issued a statement addressing claims of impropriety involving young fans.

“We realize the life of a touring band is an unconventional one,” reads the statement, which was issued mid-afternoon Wednesday, minutes before the Junos announcement.

“While we are all now either married or have entered into committed, longterm relationships, there was a time, in the past, when we engaged in a lifestyle that incorporated certain rock ’n’ roll clichés. However, there was always a line that we would never cross.”

The statement followed a flurry of claims on Twitter from anonymous users who alleged inappropriate encounters with the band. Many of the allegations relate to post-show interactions and conduct between the band and young fans. Some social media users

WE ENGAGED IN A LIFESTYLE THAT INCORPORATED CERTAIN ROCK ’N’ ROLL CLICHÉS.

called on the Juno Awards to drop Hedley as a performer at the March 24 show.

Allan Reid, president and CEO of the recording arts and science academy, had said early Wednesday the academy was “aware of the serious allegations” and that the organization was “following this situation very closely.”

The pop-rockers — fronted by Jacob Hoggard and also featuring Dave Rosin, Tommy Mac and Jay Benison — are up for three Junos this year including fan choice, group of the year and pop album of the year for their 2017 release Cageless. It is their seventh studio album and they are on tour promoting the album.

The band won video of the year in 2011 for their song Perfect, as well as pop album of the year in 2012 for Storms.

The band members said they “respect and applaud the #MeToo movement” and say it is especially important within the music industry, “which does not exactly have an enviable history of treating women with the respect they deserve.”