Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard refused to soften his band害羞草研究所檚 frat boy persona on Thursday as they played their first show since announcing plans for an 害羞草研究所渋ndefinite hiatus害羞草研究所� in the wake of recent sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
The singer didn害羞草研究所檛 spend any time acknowledging the apology he issued a day earlier on social media for what he called 害羞草研究所渞eckless and dismissive害羞草研究所� treatment of women throughout his career.
Instead, Hoggard paused for a moment to thank fans for their unwavering support but spent more time playing into the band害羞草研究所檚 trademark antics with thinly veiled sexual innuendoes.
None of it appeared to faze the Brampton, Ont. crowd who filled about two-thirds of the 5,000-seat venue and responded with enthusiastic cheers.
At one point in the show Hoggard encouraged fans to hold the hand of a friend next to them and profess their interest in having the other person serve them 害羞草研究所渂reakfast.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淏ecause, baby, you害羞草研究所檙e my most important meal of the day,害羞草研究所� Hoggard added, which seemed to imply oral sex.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what that means. I just made it up. Ow!害羞草研究所� he added before quickly moving on.
Related: Hedley to take 害羞草研究所榠ndefinite hiatus害羞草研究所� after tour
During another break in the set he called out a young woman near the front who he saw texting during his performance. He jokingly confiscated her phone and rifled through the contacts, stopping briefly on one labelled 害羞草研究所淒ad.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲ho害羞草研究所檚 dad?害羞草研究所� Hoggard asked. 害羞草研究所淒ad? Is that what you call him?害羞草研究所�
He then asked whether her father was in the audience.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 here? Of, course he害羞草研究所檚 here,害羞草研究所� he said before flipping through the names further and settling on the fan害羞草研究所檚 aunt. He gave her a quick phone call to the excitement of the audience.
Those moments were in contrast to a statement by Hedley on Wednesday which promised to 害羞草研究所渢ake a long hard look in the mirror害羞草研究所� and do some 害羞草研究所渟oul-searching害羞草研究所� in response to their past behaviour.
A 24-year-old Ottawa fan of the band alleged to the CBC that she was sexually assaulted by Hoggard after chatting with him on the dating app Tinder and agreeing to meet him at a hotel in Toronto. Hoggard害羞草研究所檚 lawyer Brian Shiller said in a statement that the woman and the Hedley frontman had 害羞草研究所渕ade a mutual plan to get together to have sex and they did just that.害羞草研究所�
Katie Summers, a radio host in Calgary, came forward on Wednesday with a new sexual misconduct allegation saying Hoggard made a comment after an interview about performing oral sex on him before grabbing her buttocks.
The group害羞草研究所檚 members responded saying they were 害羞草研究所渢ruly sorry, as individuals and as a band, to anyone who has been negatively affected by our behaviour害羞草研究所� and added they decided to continue on with their 15 scheduled concerts for the sake of their crew and others who 害羞草研究所渄epend on this tour for their livelihood.害羞草研究所�
Hoggard also released his own statement saying he has 害羞草研究所渘ever engaged in non-consensual sexual behaviour,害羞草研究所� but acknowledged he 害羞草研究所渂ehaved in a way that objectified women害羞草研究所� and was 害羞草研究所渞eckless and dismissive of their feelings.害羞草研究所�
Fans outside the venue before the concert said they were standing by their band unless they saw evidence they considered more reliable.
Israel Sitzer said she planned to scream louder than ever in support of Hedley.
害羞草研究所淚 think you害羞草研究所檙e innocent until proven guilty,害羞草研究所� the Scarborough, Ont. resident said.
害羞草研究所淪o I hold onto that because I know what it害羞草研究所檚 like to be accused of something you didn害羞草研究所檛 do. Especially when (Hoggard says in his apology), 害羞草研究所極h, I害羞草研究所檝e objectified women害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� every rocker has, on a more real note. Until something comes out that says he did it or he害羞草研究所檚 guilty of it, I害羞草研究所檓 going to support him.害羞草研究所�
Another fan named Audrey weighed the possibility of skipping the concert after she bought tickets long before the allegations surfaced. She decided since she害羞草研究所檇 already paid for seats, she might as well stick with plans to attend the show with her mother as a chaperone.
害羞草研究所淢aybe I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have bought the tickets if I knew about the accusations,害羞草研究所� Audrey said, declining to give her last name on her mother害羞草研究所檚 advice.
害羞草研究所淭onight it害羞草研究所檚 about the music.害羞草研究所�
Related: Concert-goers unfazed by Hedley sexual misconduct allegations
Near the end of the concert Hoggard seemed to subtly acknowledge the worsening storm of recent weeks, which saw Hedley害羞草研究所檚 management sever ties, radio stations pull their music and one venue cancel plans to host an upcoming concert. Some fans have also requested refunds for their tickets.
Hoggard thanked the audience for 害羞草研究所渂elieving and standing behind us害羞草研究所� and said that 害羞草研究所渟ometimes life sucks.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚f you didn害羞草研究所檛 show up here we couldn害羞草研究所檛 play here. You害羞草研究所檙e the reason we fight, the reason we sing,害羞草研究所� he said.
The singer also promised this wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be the last time Hedley would visit Brampton, suggesting the hiatus will indeed be temporary.
As the show ended, Public Enemy害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 Believe the Hype害羞草研究所� played over the auditorium speakers as the crowd filed out.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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