Modest Mouse Pulls Guitarist From Tour After Alleged DMs to Teen Surface
Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor has been removed from the band's upcoming tour following allegations that he sent sexually explicit messages to a 17-year-old fan. O'Connor admitted to poor judgment but claimed he mistook the teen for a harasser, while the band has replaced him with Seth Jabour for the tour.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of parasocial relationships between artists and fans, particularly regarding the protection of minors in the digital age.
Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor is sitting out the band's next tour after allegedly sliding into an underage fan's DMs with an explicit image ... then telling her a night of partying -- and her bikini pics -- helped spark the exchange.
The fan shared screenshots on Reddit showing messages O'Connor allegedly sent before her 17th birthday. She claims her age was clearly displayed on her Instagram bio at the time.
Take a look through the DMs ... the alleged exchange starts with O'Connor sending a meme and a sexually explicit image, prompting the teen to ask whether he'd been hacked.
O'Connor allegedly said he hadn't been hacked and blamed the messages on a "party night" ... before suggesting the fan's bikini photos had also caught his attention.
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