Hedley fans flock to Ottawa show despite misconduct claims

Hedley still managed to draw an enthusiastic crowd in Ottawa Tuesday night amidstallegations of sexual misconduct that recently appeared anonymously on social media.

Kelsey Pokoj, 14, and Morgan Nordskog, 18,had the opportunity to meet the band ahead of theshow thanks to the VIP tickets they bought at their first possible opportunity in September.

"It was great, we hugged,"Pokojsaid.

Last week, anonymous Twitter users accused the band of sexual misconduct involving young fans, prompting radio stations across Canada, includingCBC, to pull their music.

The opening acts for Tuesday's concert, Neon Dreams and Shawn Hook, pulled out of the tour last week.

They were replaced hours before the opening curtain by Toronto-basedLiteyears.

Nordskog said after more than10 years of being Hedleyfans and months waiting for the show, they're trying to set the allegations aside and enjoy the music.

"It's hard and confusing," Nordskog said.

"It might be the last time, so I'm going to make it the best time."

'They're so good to us'

Paige Kirkwood from Kingstonand her friend Monica Nolan from Brockvillesaid they try to catch every Hedley show in Ontario when the band goes on tour.

"We've met them so many times. They've always just been such genuinely nice, great guys to us, we never experienced anything like the allegations have said," Kirkwood said.

"They're so nice. There's no proof. And we love them, they're so good to us."

Some fans were not so quick to forgive the Juno Award-winning band, demanding a refundfor the TD Place show when the allegations went public.

Band promises 'better'

Hedleywas up for three Junos this year including fan choice, group of the year and pop album of the year, but has withdrawn from consideration for the prizesand will no longer performat the televised event.

The band was dropped by its management team last week.

The philanthropic organization behind WE Day also distanced itself from the group after a long relationship.

In a statement released on Monday, the band said they "intend to take responsibility and talk about how we have let some people down and what we intend to do about it."

The written statement seemed to walk back part of their earlier comments blaming the "rock and roll lifestyle" and their age at the time of the allegations.

The band said those statements weren't good enough and that theyintend"to do and be better."