Modest Mouse Guitarist Removed From Tour Following Allegations

The controversy erupted after an anonymous user posted screenshots on Reddit, alleging O’Connor initiated a conversation shortly before her 17th birthday. According to the exchanges, the guitarist sent an explicit photo of a man to the fan, who initially believed his account had been compromised. O’Connor later dismissed the suggestion that his account was hacked, blaming a night of drinking for his conduct. In the messages, he further attempted to deflect blame by claiming the fan had blindsided him with social media interactions.

In a statement released via Reddit, O’Connor contended he mistook the teenager for a recurring stalker who had targeted him for years. He characterized his explicit messages as a botched effort to call the person’s bluff. While he apologized for the distress caused, he acknowledged that his explanation might fail to convince critics. Modest Mouse confirmed O’Connor’s departure from the tour, which begins Tuesday in Ojai, California, announcing that Seth Jabour of Les Savy Fav will fill the vacancy. The band has not clarified whether O’Connor’s exit is permanent.