TORONTO (CelebrityAccess) — In the face of a growing number of accusations of sexual misconduct against frontman Jacob Hoggard and other band members, Canadian indie rock band Hedley announced that they were going to go on an indefinite hiatus after concluding their current tour.
“No excuses are going to be made by any of us. We clearly have some soul-searching to do,” the band said in a statement posted to the band’s social media. “That begins by saying that we are truly sorry, as individuals and as a band, to anyone who has been negatively affected by our behaviour.”
In a separate statement, Hoggard denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual behavior but conceded that he had behaved inappropriately towards women.
“The way I treated women was reckless and dismissive of their feelings. I understand the significant harm this caused not only to the women I interacted with, but to all women who are degraded by this type of behaviour. I have been careless and indifferent and I have no excuse. For this, I am truly sorry.”
Hoggard stands accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women, including an Ottawa woman who alleged to CBC News that Hoggard raped her in a hotel room in Toronto in 2016. A Calgary radio host also accused Hoggard of misconduct during an encounter seven years ago. Katie Summers, who co-hosts the morning show on 90.3 AMP in Calgary claimed in a recent interview that Hoggard inappropriately touched her and made lewd suggestions during a post-show interview.
“He just made this comment to me about performing oral sex on him out in the alley if I was lucky and it kind of took me off guard,” Summers recalled in an interview Wednesday.
Since the allegations came to light, Hedley has been dropped by their management team, had scheduled concerts pulled and been removed from radio playlists. Hedley also withdrew itself from consideration for the Juno Awards.
— Jacob Hoggard (@JacobHoggard) March 1, 2018
— Hedley (@Hedleyonline) March 1, 2018
