Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard refused to soften his band91裸聊视频檚 frat boy persona on Thursday as they played their first show since announcing plans for an 91裸聊视频渋ndefinite hiatus91裸聊视频� in the wake of recent sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
The singer didn91裸聊视频檛 spend any time acknowledging the apology he issued a day earlier on social media for what he called 91裸聊视频渞eckless and dismissive91裸聊视频� 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 band91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渂reakfast.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淏ecause, baby, you91裸聊视频檙e my most important meal of the day,91裸聊视频� Hoggard added, which seemed to imply oral sex.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know what that means. I just made it up. Ow!91裸聊视频� he added before quickly moving on.
Related: Hedley to take 91裸聊视频榠ndefinite hiatus91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频淒ad.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲ho91裸聊视频檚 dad?91裸聊视频� Hoggard asked. 91裸聊视频淒ad? Is that what you call him?91裸聊视频�
He then asked whether her father was in the audience.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 here? Of, course he91裸聊视频檚 here,91裸聊视频� he said before flipping through the names further and settling on the fan91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渢ake a long hard look in the mirror91裸聊视频� and do some 91裸聊视频渟oul-searching91裸聊视频� 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. Hoggard91裸聊视频檚 lawyer Brian Shiller said in a statement that the woman and the Hedley frontman had 91裸聊视频渕ade a mutual plan to get together to have sex and they did just that.91裸聊视频�
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 group91裸聊视频檚 members responded saying they were 91裸聊视频渢ruly sorry, as individuals and as a band, to anyone who has been negatively affected by our behaviour91裸聊视频� and added they decided to continue on with their 15 scheduled concerts for the sake of their crew and others who 91裸聊视频渄epend on this tour for their livelihood.91裸聊视频�
Hoggard also released his own statement saying he has 91裸聊视频渘ever engaged in non-consensual sexual behaviour,91裸聊视频� but acknowledged he 91裸聊视频渂ehaved in a way that objectified women91裸聊视频� and was 91裸聊视频渞eckless and dismissive of their feelings.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚 think you91裸聊视频檙e innocent until proven guilty,91裸聊视频� the Scarborough, Ont. resident said.
91裸聊视频淪o I hold onto that because I know what it91裸聊视频檚 like to be accused of something you didn91裸聊视频檛 do. Especially when (Hoggard says in his apology), 91裸聊视频極h, I91裸聊视频檝e objectified women91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� every rocker has, on a more real note. Until something comes out that says he did it or he91裸聊视频檚 guilty of it, I91裸聊视频檓 going to support him.91裸聊视频�
Another fan named Audrey weighed the possibility of skipping the concert after she bought tickets long before the allegations surfaced. She decided since she91裸聊视频檇 already paid for seats, she might as well stick with plans to attend the show with her mother as a chaperone.
91裸聊视频淢aybe I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have bought the tickets if I knew about the accusations,91裸聊视频� Audrey said, declining to give her last name on her mother91裸聊视频檚 advice.
91裸聊视频淭onight it91裸聊视频檚 about the music.91裸聊视频�
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 Hedley91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渂elieving and standing behind us91裸聊视频� and said that 91裸聊视频渟ometimes life sucks.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚f you didn91裸聊视频檛 show up here we couldn91裸聊视频檛 play here. You91裸聊视频檙e the reason we fight, the reason we sing,91裸聊视频� he said.
The singer also promised this wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be the last time Hedley would visit Brampton, suggesting the hiatus will indeed be temporary.
As the show ended, Public Enemy91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 Believe the Hype91裸聊视频� played over the auditorium speakers as the crowd filed out.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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