Modest Mouse Removes Guitarist Amid Misconduct Allegations

Modest Mouse has decided to remove guitarist Simon O’Connor from their upcoming tour following accusations of inappropriate conduct involving a minor. The band declared the change on social media last week.

The statement read, “Simon O’Connor will not be joining us on the upcoming tour. The good news is that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will step in to play guitar.” The band expressed excitement about the tour, adding, “We look forward to being out there with you all.”

A 16-year-old fan alleged on Reddit that O’Connor had sent her an inappropriate image, along with several direct messages after she interacted with his Instagram stories. The fan pointed out that her Instagram profile clearly indicated her age, especially as it was linked to her 17th birthday countdown.

O’Connor quickly removed the messages and participated in a conversation where he acknowledged his actions were not due to a hacked phone but rather were his own doing following a party night. The musician responded to the fan’s message, admitting lapse in judgment, resulting in shared blame due to the fan’s content of likes and bikini photos.

Modest Mouse formed in 1993, with Isaac Brock as the lead singer. The original lineup included late drummer Jeremiah Green and bassist Eric Judy. O’Connor joined the band in 2021 and had previously collaborated with MGMT. He also contributed to Modest Mouse’s recent album, “An Eraser and a Maze.”

“I unequivocally oppose any sexual behavior towards minors. As a human and a parent, it disgusts me,” O’Connor stated after the incident, maintaining he mistakenly believed he was interacting with someone familiar from previous occurrences.

He explained that after a long night, he saw a profile he thought he recognized from before, prompting him to send a meme and a sticker. Realizing his error after a short time, he unsent the messages and stopped the communication.

O’Connor expressed sincere regret, stating, “I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages. They didn’t deserve to be put in that position, and I’m sorry for the stress and attention this has brought them.” While accepting that some might doubt his explanation, he committed to telling the truth, taking responsibility, and apologizing.