BRAMPTON, Ont. — Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard refused to soften his band's frat boy persona on Thursday as they played their first show since announcing plans for an "indefinite hiatus" in the wake of recent sexual assault allegations.
The singer didn't spend any time acknowledging the apology he issued a day earlier on social media for what he called "reckless and dismissive" 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's trademark antics with thinly veiled sexual innuendoes. None of it appeared to phase the Brampton, Ont. crowd who responded with enthusiastic cheers.
At one point in the show Hoggard encouraged fans to hold the hand of the person next to them and profess their interest in having the other person serve them "breakfast."
"Because, baby, you're my most important meal of the day," Hoggard added, which seemed to imply oral sex.
"I don't know what means. I just made it up. Ow!" he added before quickly moving on.
During another break in the set he called out a young woman near the front who he said was texting during his performance. He confiscated her phone and rifled through the contacts, stopping briefly on labelled "Dad."
"Who's dad?" Hoggard asked. "Dad? Is that what you call him?"
He then asked whether her father was in the audience.
"He's here? Of, course he's here," he said before flipping through the contacts further and settling on the fan's aunt Cindy. He gave her a quick phone call to the excitement of the audience.
Those moments contrasted to a statement by Hedley on Wednesday which promised to "take a long hard look in the mirror" 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's lawyer Brian Shiller said in a statement that the woman and the Hedley frontman had "made a mutual plan to get together to have sex and they did just that."
The group's members said they were "truly sorry, as individuals and as a band, to anyone who has been negatively affected by our behaviour" and added they decided to continue on with their 15 scheduled concerts for the sake of their crew and others who "depend on this tour for their livelihood."
Hoggard also released his own statement saying he has "never engaged in non-consensual sexual behaviour," but acknowledged he "behaved in a way that objectified women" and was "reckless and dismissive of their feelings."
Near the end of the concert, the singer came closest to recognizing the worsening storm of recent weeks, which saw Hedley's management sever ties, radio stations pull their music and one venue cancel plans to host an upcoming concert.
He thanked the audience for "believing and standing behind us" and said that "sometimes life sucks."
"If you didn't show up here we couldn't play here. You're the reason we fight, the reason we sing," he said.
As the show ended, Public Enemy's "Don't Believe the Hype" played over the auditorium speakers.
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html
No comments:
Post a Comment