Modest Mouse Parts Ways with Guitarist Amid Allegations
Rock band Modest Mouse has removed guitarist Simon O’Connor from its upcoming tour following allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. The band announced O’Connor’s departure from the tour last week via a social media post, stating he would no longer be joining them. Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav is set to fill in on guitar for the tour.
Allegations Surface Online
The situation came to light when a user on Reddit, who identified as a 16-year-old fan, posted screenshots alleging O’Connor had sent her an erotic image and subsequent direct messages. According to the user’s account, she had previously liked some of O’Connor’s Instagram stories. She claimed her profile at the time clearly indicated her age, referencing a countdown to her 17th birthday.
The fan alleged that O’Connor quickly deleted his initial message. The subsequent exchange, as described by the user, involved O’Connor admitting his phone was not hacked but attributing his actions to a “party night” and looking at things with “one eye.” The fan reportedly responded with a comment about getting sleep, to which O’Connor appeared to reply, “But you did blindside me with a gaggle of likes and then very little intro besides bikini pics so we are both to blame.” A further screenshot reportedly showed O’Connor deleting that message and writing, “I did it again.”
O’Connor’s Response
O’Connor addressed the incident the following day, issuing a statement that unequivocally opposed any sexual behavior towards minors. He described himself as a parent and stated such actions disgusted him. He explained that for some time, he had been dealing with an individual who created multiple social media accounts to “mess with him.” O’Connor claimed this person would post similar photos and that he recognized the profile from previous encounters.
He stated that after a long night, he saw a profile interacting with his Instagram posts and stories, which he “assumed” was the same persistent individual. He admitted to making a “poor judgement” decision to reach out with what he described as a “tasteless meme” and a sticker that read “Simon calls your bluff.” His intention, he said, was to indicate he recognized the “barrage of likes” and photo content from previous, similar profiles, calling it an attempt at a “gotcha.”
O’Connor further stated that within minutes, he realized his mistake, acknowledging it was not the same person he had dealt with before. He claimed he unsent the messages and immediately stopped communicating. He expressed genuine sorrow to the person who received the messages, apologizing for putting them in that position and for the stress and attention it caused.
He acknowledged that some might not believe his account, but maintained he could only tell his truth, take responsibility for his mistake, and apologize. O’Connor joined Modest Mouse in 2021 and is featured on the band’s latest album, “An Eraser and a Maze.” He has also previously toured with the band MGMT.
Band’s Announcement
Modest Mouse’s announcement regarding O’Connor’s absence from the tour was brief. “Simon O’Connor will not be joining us on the upcoming tour,” the band posted. They followed up with the positive news about Seth Jabour joining, adding, “We look forward to being out there with you all.” Representatives for Modest Mouse did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
