Hedley dropped by management team
BAND ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT
Besieged pop-rockers Hedley faced a barrage of more bad news Friday as they were dropped by their management team, abandoned by one of the opening bands on their cross-Canada tour, and saw their music blacklisted by the CBC.
The whirlwind of developments came a day after dozens of radio stations also stripped Hedley’s hit songs from the air in response to sexual misconduct allegations, which had been circulated by anonymous social media users who detailed encounters with young fans.
The former MuchMusic darlings — fronted by Jacob Hoggard and including Dave Rosin, Tommy Mac and Jay Benison — released a statement Wednesday calling the allegations “unsubstantiated,” but acknowledged they “engaged in a lifestyle that incorporated certain rock ‘n’ roll cliches.”
They went ahead with a show in Medicine Hat that night and were set to play Brandon, Man., on Friday — but without openers Neon Dreams.
“In light of the allegations surfacing against Hedley, we can no longer in good conscience continue on the ‘Cageless’ tour,” the band said in a statement, just hours before they were due to hit the stage.
“We understand this choice could negatively impact our band professionally but in the end we have to do what we feel is morally right. We would like to thank all the amazing fans that have made the first eight shows on the tour the best experience of our lives.”
The other tour opener, Shawn Hook, said in a statement late Thursday that he was “obviously disheartened” by the allegations levelled against Hedley but would continue “to fulfil my contractual obligations.”
On Friday morning, Hedley’s management team said it had terminated all “business relationships with the band” and the CBC announced it was dropping the group’s music from its radio and streaming platforms “in light of the serious allegations that have surfaced.”
On Thursday, Corus Radio revealed it had suspended all airplay of Hedley songs across its 30 music stations, as did other stations in Edmonton and Vancouver.
The Junos also dropped the Vancouver group from the upcoming televised awards bash in what was called a joint decision with the band “after careful consideration of the situation.”