Topic overview
In brief
- Modest Mouse announced the removal of guitarist Simon O'Connor from their North American tour due to allegations of inappropriate messages.
- A 17-year-old fan accused O'Connor of sending explicit content through Instagram, sharing screenshots of their conversations.
- O'Connor issued an apology, claiming he mistook the fan for someone who had previously harassed him online.
Summary
In the United States, Modest Mouse has announced the removal of guitarist Simon O'Connor from their upcoming North American tour following serious allegations against him. The band made this announcement on a Friday, stating that O'Connor would not be joining them on the road starting Tuesday in Ojai, California. The decision came after a Reddit user, identifying as a 17-year-old fan, accused O'Connor of sending inappropriate messages, including an erotic image, through Instagram direct messages. The user claimed to have been 16 at the time of the interactions and shared screenshots of their conversations, which included O'Connor commenting on their bikini pictures.
The controversy began on July 26, when the fan posted their allegations online, detailing how O'Connor initiated the conversation with a sticker that read, 'Simon calls your bluff, BUZZZ,' before sending a sexually explicit meme. The fan initially suggested that O'Connor's account had been hacked, to which he allegedly responded with a comment about having a party night. The situation escalated when the fan noted that O'Connor had viewed their Instagram Story counting down to their 17th birthday, leading to further concern about the nature of their interactions.