Recent allegations against the Canadian band Hedley didn't stop a group of Elliot Lake fans from attending Wednesday evening's concert at the Sudbury Community Arena.
Jasmine Rochon said ever since these allegations have come to light, she will still support the group "no matter what happens."
She noted no criminal charges have been laid.
"I'm not victim blaming anyone but like enough is enough," Rochon said. "I've been a fan for years and this won't stop. It sucks that they're splitting up after the tour."
The band has said it will continue with its Cageless tour, then plan to go on indefinite hiatus when the tour ends.
Hedley, fronted by Jacob Hoggard, has been under fire since sexual misconduct allegations began surfacing online two weeks ago, suggesting inappropriate encounters with young fans.
In the fallout, the group has since been dropped by its management team, blacklisted by scores of radio stations and abandoned by musicians booked as tour openers.
Rochon and her best friend, Catelynn Lavallie, both expressed similar feelings, stating they will still be fans of the band even after they go on hiatus.
"I mean, this will be my fourth time attending a Hedley show and they put on one hell of a show and I enjoy their music," said Lavallie. "I met Jacob at a previous show in Ottawa and he was so sweet and down to earth. I understand he has come out with a statement claiming he apologizes for his behaviour and stated he did behave in an inappropriate manner but he never stated exactly what he did. I'll leave it to the court, if these women pursue these allegations, to decide if he's actually guilty."
Hedley, originally from Abbotsford, British Columbia, formed in 2003. They are named after an unincorporated community of Hedley, British Columbia, after the members found out the town was up for sale for $346,000. They are known for singles such as "Never Too Late", "3-2-1", "Hello" and "For The Nights I Can't Remember." Hoggard was dared $150 that he wouldn't make it past the Canadian Idol auditions in 2004 and proved them wrong by making it to the top three before being eliminated. This gave them the boost they needed to make it big in the industry.
Rochon and Lavallie are heading to the concert with three other friends, all of whom are in support of Hedley.
"I know there is a protest going on in Sudbury and that they will be out full force at the arena but we're making our posters in hotel room the night of the show to show the band we support Hedley," said fan Marissa Charbonneau. "I'll be driving to the show with the gang and we decided we will play their music and sing along. What Jacob does outside of his show doesn't reflect how his music is portrayed."
One of the group's friends, Katrina Holland, said although she enjoys Hedley's music, she has decided to sell her ticket. She explained that while growing up, she was assaulted and she "can't support someone who was accused of it."
"I've loved Hedley since I was a kid and enjoy their music but lately, with all these allegations and stuff surrounding Jake, I just can't bring myself to go," she explained. "I sold my ticket to a friend who is going with the group."
— with files from Canadian Press
