BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Breaking Idol, a CBC documentary

For years, J. B.’s identity was hidden behind publication ban. Now, she steps forward in her own name to share her story of survival and resilience. We're thrilled to announce the release of Breaking Idol, a powerful new documentary from CBC about "J. B.” — a survivor at the centre of the first sexual assault trial of Jacob Hoggard. J. B.’s case against the former Canadian Idol finalist and frontman of the multi-platinum band Hedley, captivated the country and divided fans of all ages. Based on part on Canadian True Crime's series about that 2022 trial, Breaking Idol explores the collision of fandom, power, and truth, and follows J. B. as she confronts the aftermath of the trial and the culture that protected the man who assaulted her. __________________________________________________ Stream Breaking Idol now on CBC Gem https://gem.cbc.ca/breaking-idol and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJsvxLQWnxo Currently available only in Canada, sorry. __________________________________________________ Media clips to come on Canadian True Crime Facebook https://www.facebook.com/canadiantruecrimeand Instagram https://www.instagram.com/canadiantruecrimepod/ Director Tiffany Hsiung Supervising Producer Sally Karam Produced by Frantic Films for CBC’s The Passionate Eye Consulting Producer Kristi Lee Special thanks to J. B. and Kelly Favro, Beyond The Verdict https://www.beyondtheverdict.ca/ Breaking Idol is based in part on Canadian True Crime’s podcast series The Trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard https://www.canadiantruecrime.ca/episodes/122 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Hi there. Today, I am so thrilled to finally share with you a very exciting project I've been involved with. I've mentioned it vaguely a few times this year, but now I can announce Breaking Idol, a new documentary from CBC, available now in Canada on CBC Gem and YouTube. Breaking Idol centres around a courageous survivor at the centre of the first sexual assault trial of Jacob Hoggard. She's someone many of you are now familiar with.

• 0:31Speaker 01

  For the past seven years, I've been referred to as JB, Emma, the Ottawa woman, a liar.

• 0:39Speaker 00

  Today, are you ready to tell us who you really are? For many years, JB's identity has been hidden and protected. But in Breaking Idol, she steps into the light for the first time on camera. The documentary follows her brave journey, from the day she caught the train to Toronto to meet Hoggard in that hotel room, to the day she decided to report her harrowing sexual assault just so she could stand with another survivor, to the gruelling and cruel defence tactics she had to endure in the witness box, and finally, her decision to have her publication ban lifted. Breaking Idol follows JB as she catches a train from Ottawa to Toronto once again.

• 1:22Speaker 00

  But this time, it's to reclaim her identity and share her story of survival and resilience with me, the first time we've met in person. Directed by the brilliant Tiffany Shong, a multi-peabody and two-time Canadian screen award-winning filmmaker, Breaking Idol is raw, honest, incredibly thoughtful and eye-opening. Take a listen.

• 1:48Speaker 02

  Jacob's rise to fame was not a surprise.

• 1:52Speaker 03

  From Canadian Idol to the helm of Hadley, Jacob Hoggard catapults the band to national fame with over a million albums sold.

• 2:00Speaker 04

  Jacob Hoggard, he had the whole country at his feet.

• 2:03Speaker 05

  I like the up-close-up personal thing. I like that they're close enough, they can touch us, spit on us, or near us.

• 2:08Speaker 03

  Their sound and success are unmistakable.

• 2:13Speaker 01

  On February 12th, 2018, a Twitter user, Taylor Bowman, started asking for creepy, headly stories.

• 2:21Speaker 06

  This 24-year-old Ottawa woman came forward to CBC News with her story of rape.

• 2:28Speaker 01

  I was not expecting the backlash online.

• 2:32Speaker 03

  The band is urging fans not to believe everything they read online.

• 2:36Speaker 07

  People were more and more protective over Jacob. That's when you start seeing the cult-like behaviour.

• 2:41Speaker 01

  A lot of people were tweeting about me. "Once we find out who she is, we should kill her. If she's lying, she should be shot." I was so anxious and so nervous.

• 2:54Speaker 00

  Let's talk about the cross-examination.

• 2:57Speaker 01

  Going to court was like a second assault, and worse, because you're sitting in front of the person that did the worst thing possible to you. And their defence lawyer is hired to make you feel like you were nothing.

• 3:16Speaker 01

  Now I just want people to acknowledge that I'm a real person with feelings. Maybe that might even change his supporters' minds about me.

• 3:28Speaker 01

  And it's reclaiming my story. It's my story to tell now.

• 3:33Speaker 01

  For the past seven years, I've been referred to as JB, Emma, the Ottawa woman, a liar. Today, are you ready to tell us who you really are? What is your actual name? Yes.

• 3:51Speaker 00

  Breaking Idol, directed by Tiffany Shung. You can watch Breaking Idol now at CBC Gem and at the CBC Docs YouTube channel. It's currently available only in Canada, sorry. But we've put some media clips up on the Canadian True Crime Facebook and Instagram. Breaking Idol, produced by Frantic Films for CBC's The Passionate Eye.