Canada’s Juno Awards Drop Hedley Performance Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The Junos have dropped the scheduled Hedley performance following sexual misconduct allegations

Canada’s Juno Awards Drop Hedley Performance Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations
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Canada’s Juno Awards Drop Hedley Performance Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

 The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has released a statement saying that Hedley will no longer perform at this year's Juno Awards. The announcement comes after a barrage of sexual misconduct allegations against the band surfaced on social media this week.

Organizers of Canada’s biggest music awards say it was a joint decision with Hedley "after careful consideration of the situation." 

The firestorm of accusations prompted the group to post a separate statement on Facebook, calling the allegations involving young fans “unsubstantiated.”

Many accusations can be found on the #outhedley2k18 hashtag on Twitter.

The Vancouver band — fronted by Jacob Hoggard and including 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.

"We realize the life of a touring band is an unconventional one," the band said in a statement issued minutes before the Junos announcement.

"While we are all now either married or have entered into committed, long-term 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 says the band, which is currently on tour in Canada, "will be evaluating some of our next steps."

"We appreciate the bravery of those who have come forward with their own stories, and we realize that all of us, as individuals and as a society, can and must do better when it comes to this issue," reads the statement.

"However, if we are to have a meaningful, open and honest discussion, we all have to accept and respect that there are at least two sides to every story. The recent allegations against us posted on social media are simply unsubstantiated and have not been validated. We would hope that people will bear-in-mind the context in which these unsupported accusations have been made before passing judgment on us as individuals or as a band."

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