Modest Mouse has made a last-minute lineup change after guitarist Simon O’Connor faced allegations involving inappropriate Instagram messages to a teenage fan. The indie rock band confirmed he will no longer join its upcoming North American tour but stopped short of explaining whether he remains a member.
The announcement arrived just days before the tour begins in Ojai, California. It also followed O’Connor’s public apology addressing the accusations circulating online.
The band’s lineup changed after allegations against guitarist Simon O’Connor emerged online
Modest Mouse shared the update in a brief Instagram statement on Friday. “Simon O’Connor will not be joining us on the upcoming tour,” the band wrote. “The good news is that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will be jumping in to play guitar. We look forward to being out there with you all.”
The band did not provide additional details about O’Connor’s absence. It also did not clarify whether he remains part of the group’s lineup beyond the tour.
The decision followed allegations posted by a Reddit user who identified themselves as a 17-year-old fan. The user claimed O’Connor sent inappropriate Instagram direct messages when they were 16. They also shared screenshots of the alleged exchange and said their date of birth appeared on their Instagram profile.
According to the post, O’Connor allegedly sent a sexually explicit meme before commenting about the user’s bikini photos. The fan also claimed he later viewed an Instagram Story counting down to their 17th birthday before sending a brief apology.
O’Connor responded in a lengthy statement on the band’s subreddit. He said he mistakenly believed the account belonged to someone who had repeatedly harassed him using fake profiles.
“Throughout my adult life, there has been a person who has popped up from time to time with the intention of, for lack of a better term, messing with me,” he wrote. O’Connor added that he sent “a tasteless meme” before realizing he had contacted the wrong person.
“After a few minutes, I realized that I had made a mistake,” he continued. “I unsent the messages and immediately ceased communication.”
The guitarist also apologized directly, writing, “I’m genuinely sorry to the person who received those messages.” He added that he “unequivocally” opposes “any sexual behavior towards minors.”
O’Connor joined Modest Mouse’s touring lineup in 2021 and appeared on the band’s latest album, An Eraser and a Maze. Meanwhile, Seth Jabour will handle guitar duties when the North American tour kicks off this week.
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Originally reported by Vanshika Vasundhare Singh on Mandatory
