Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard apologized last night for past sexual misconduct and said he would be "stepping back" from his career indefinitely. The frontman for the Canadian band said in a statement posted to Twitter that he had "behaved in a way that objectified women" over the past 13 years and that he was "truly sorry" for being "careless and indifferent."

I was given a position of leadership and power and I mishandled it. I will regret this for the rest of my life. I've let down my family, my friends, and so many fans. I'm sorry.

The statement ends with Hoggard saying that he will be "taking a serious step back to make real changes in \[his\] life" after Hedley's current tour finishes.

<p>British Columbia, Canada pop-rock band Hedley has been dropped from the Juno Awards after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the band's members this week. As reported by <a href="https://exclaim.ca/music/article/fans_urge_junos_to_drop_hedley_as_sexual_misconduct_allegations_surface_on_twitter" target="_blank">Exclaim</a>, Twitter user @_cndnpsycho began tweeting DMs that they had received from women alleging that Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard had made inappropriate contact with them when the women were teenagers. The hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/outhedley2k18?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash" target="_blank">#outHedley2k18</a> began spreading, with some users urging the Junos (Canada's Grammys) to rescind the band's nominations for this year's awards. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said they were "following this situation closely" and tweeted on February 14 that the band would no longer be performing.</p><div style="max-width:550px;" data-iframely-id="I5MbJq6" data-embedded-url="https://twitter.com/thejunoawards/status/963862438717394944" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/I5MbJq6?app=1" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div><p>On the same day, Hedley made a statement on their official Facebook page denying the allegations, calling them "unsubstantiated." They also seemed to address the specific nature of the allegations, many of which involved fan interaction while the band was on tour.</p><p class="article__blockquote">We realize the life of a touring band is an unconventional one. 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 and roll clichés. However, there was always a line that we would never cross.</p> <p>The statement further says that Hedley "respect and applaud the #MeToo movement" and that the band "will be evaluating some of [its] next steps," pledging to make their public conduct "inclusive and safe" going forward.</p><p>Hedley was formed in 2003 by Hoggard, who was a runner-up on <i>Canadian Idol</i>. The band's initial releases were pop-punk before their sound grew more pop-oriented in this decade. </p><p>In the wake of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, first reported by the New York Times in October, Hollywood has been reckoning with widespread allegations of sexual misconduct. Though similar allegations have been made in the music world, the industry as a whole has not faced the same kind of immediate and widespread action. <br></p><p>Noisey has reached out to Hedley for comment. Read more about the allegations against Hedley <a href="http://ontheaside.com/music/allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-twitter-hedley/" target="_blank">here</a> and read the band's full statement below.</p> <div style="max-width:640px;" data-iframely-id="WrtoSzP" data-embedded-url="https://www.facebook.com/HedleyOnline/posts/10155332092153907" class="article__embed article__embed--iframely"><div style="left:0;width:100%;height:0;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;" data-iframely-smart-iframe="true"><iframe data-iframely-url="//oembed.vice.com/WrtoSzP?app=1" style="border:0;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;" allowfullscreen data-iframely-smart-iframe="true" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div> <p><i><b>Phil is on <a href="http://twitter.com/philwitmer" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></b></i></p>

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Hedley's Juno Awards Set Cancelled Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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Twitter users made multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Hedley and Hoggard in February under the #outHedley2K18 hashtag. The group was dropped by their management and opening acts. The band denied the allegations in a Facebook statement at the time. [This week, an Ottawa woman accused Hoggard of rape and sexual assault](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zmwgp4/hedley-singer-jacob-hoggard-accused-of-rape-by-ottawa-woman-report), which he denied last night in his own statement. You can read Hoggard's full statement below.

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Hedley Frontman Jacob Hoggard Apologizes for "Objectifying" Behaviour

Hedley's Juno Awards Set Cancelled Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Hedley Frontman Jacob Hoggard Apologizes for "Objectifying" Behaviour

Hedley's Juno Awards Set Cancelled Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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