Fans stand by Hedley
TOUR GOES ON AMID SEXUAL-MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
The band has been dropped by their management team, tour openers and dozens of radio stations, but concert-goers say they are standing by Hedley as the besieged pop-rockers continue to perform across the country in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations that they have steadfastly denied.
Fans screamed until they were out of breath during Hedley’s lively performance at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre on Friday.
Frontman Jacob Hoggard thanked Hedley fans from the “bottom of our hearts” for being the people the band could always rely on, but did not directly address the anonymous allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving young fans that have emerged on social media in recent weeks.
“To everybody ... who has stood behind us all of these years — through the ups and the downs, through the highs and the lows, the good times and the bad — Halifax, we could never, ever imagine doing this without you,” Hoggard told the crowd over anthemic music.
“Because sometimes life sucks, and that’s why we’ve got you. And, Halifax, sometimes life sucks, but that’s why you’ve got us ... Stay in our lives, and I promise we’ll stay in yours.”
The Canadian Press, which normally does not pay to cover live events, purchased a ticket to Friday’s show after representatives for Hedley only offered press credentials for the first three songs of the band’s performance.
Band representatives said Hedley is not giving interviews at this time. Hedley called the allegations “unsubstantiated” in a statement earlier this month.
As fans filed into the Halifax auditorium on Friday, many concert-goers said they were more focused on enjoying the show than litigating the allegations against Hedley, which some said had little bearing on their feelings towards the band.
Several fans said they had not investigated the claims themselves, or did not believe it was their place to cast judgement.
“The band is probably suffering, but until there’s more about it, everything’s pretty vague,” said Kristen MacIntosh, who drove from Cape Breton to see the show with her eight-year-old son after buying him a ticket as a Christmas present.
Some fans expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the claims, questioning why anonymous social media users would bring up yearsold allegations online rather than going to authorities.
Madisson Muise, a 16-year-old who came to Halifax from Yarmouth, N.S., to attend her first concert, said she was relieved she could still see her favourite band perform after fearing the tour would be cancelled.
“Their fans are really supporting them and sticking together,” said Muise.
Seats filled up in the auditorium as Toronto-based pop band Liteyears kicked off the show, filling in as Hedley’s opening act after singer Shawn Hook and Halifax’s Neon Dreams ditched the tour.