Modest Mouse drops guitarist Simon O’Connor from tour over messages to minor

Modest Mouse has removed guitarist Simon O’Connor from its current concert schedule following allegations of inappropriate digital communication with a minor. The band confirmed the departure on Instagram, stating that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will assume guitar duties for the remaining dates supporting the album An Eraser and a Maze.

The decision follows the publication of screenshots on the Reddit forum r/ModestMouse, which detailed an exchange between the musician and a fan. The user stated she was 16 years old at the time, with her birthdate visible in her profile biography, and noted that O’Connor had viewed a countdown to her seventeenth birthday.

According to the provided images, O’Connor initiated the direct message with a sticker before sending and subsequently deleting an explicit meme. When the recipient suggested his account might have been compromised, the guitarist replied that he was not hacked but had been at a party and was looking at everything with one eye.

He later sent another message blaming the recipient for sending bikini pictures, which he also deleted before acknowledging the error. O’Connor subsequently issued a public apology, asserting he had mistaken the teenager for a known online troll who previously harassed him.

“After a few minutes, I realized that I had made a mistake and this was not the person who I had dealt with before,” O’Connor stated. He added that he immediately ceased communication and unsent the messages, expressing genuine sorrow for the stress the situation caused the recipient.

For the live entertainment sector, such incidents underscore the immediate operational and reputational risks associated with artist conduct. Touring companies and management teams must execute rapid logistical pivots to protect ticket revenues and brand integrity when personnel face severe public backlash.

The swift replacement of O’Connor demonstrates how modern music acts treat allegations involving minors as critical business liabilities. By immediately installing a veteran substitute, the band ensures the commercial viability of the tour while distancing its corporate entity from the controversy.

O’Connor has been a member of Modest Mouse since 2021 and has also worked as a touring bassist for MGMT. The band has not indicated whether his removal is temporary or permanent beyond the current routing.