Opening act cancelled at Quebec City Hedley concert after rape allegation against lead singer

The opening act for Monday night's Hedley concert in Quebec City was cancelled following a rape allegation against lead singer Jacob Hoggard.

The event's venue, Centre Vidotron, issued a statement on its Facebook page saying there would be no opening act for the show. The Toronto bandLiteyearswas scheduled to open the concert.

On Sunday night, CBC published the story of a 24-year-old Ottawa woman who alleged Hoggard sexually assaulted her in 2016.

A statement fromHoggard'slawyer says the singer is very sorry the woman is upset, "but that does not change the fact that they made a mutual plan to get together to have sex and they did just that."

• 'I said stop': Ottawa woman accuses Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard of rape

Fans stand by band

Fans lined up outside theCentre Vidotronsaid the music and the band members' personal lives are separate.

"The power of their songs, it's very important for me because they helped me go through some rough times in high school. So just listening to this song, I felt better," said fan MeganChouinard.

Elise Marcouxis attending the concert with her two teenage daughters and said the family has been discussing the allegations a lot at home.

"It's a trial by Twitter. Facebook, Twitter, only. Nothing proven. Most of it anonymously,"Marcouxsaid.

"We're here to show support. If it's true, some lives were ruined. But at this time, it's these guy's [lives] that are ruined."

Some fans brought signs which read "I stand with Hedley" written onto a heart, or which showed the hashtag #IstandwithHeadley.

Social media allegations

Allegations of sexual assault first surfaced against Hoggardon social media earlier in February.

The allegations caused the Canadian band to withdraw from Juno consideration and they were dropped by their management.

It also saw them lose their original opening acts, Shawn Hook and Neon Dreams.

Adrian Morris, the drummer of Neon Dreams, told CBCthat the band did two more shows withHedley after allegations againstHoggard surfaced.

"It didn't sit right with us, we felt wrong about it," Morris said.

"One thing I really take away from this is we had a lot of backlash from Hedley fans because of the fact that we pulled out, and it's given me a lot of insight into the courage that it takes to come out as a victim," he added.

• Hedley's Juno performance cancelled in wake of sexual misconduct claims

Hedley was alsoblacklisted by numerous radio stations, including CBC, following the allegations on social media.

The band plansto continue its tour, however, with shows scheduled until March 23.

Fans still support Hedley in face of allegations

7 years ago

Duration 2:38

Devoted fans are still showing their support for Hedley, even in the face of new allegations of sexual misconduct against the band's frontman Jacob Hoggard. Hedley's lead singer is denying all of the allegations including one published by CBC News in which an Ottawa woman accused Hoggard of rape. Hoggard says his interaction with the woman was consensual