Guitarist Simon O'Connor Accused of Sending Inappropriate Messages to Minor

Reddit users posted screenshots alleging that Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor sent a sexually explicit meme and a suggestive direct‑message, including an erotic image, to a fan who was 16 years old at the time. The fan’s Instagram bio listed her age, and she said O'Connor had viewed her story counting down to a 17th birthday before contacting her.

O'Connor responded on Reddit, acknowledging the messages and claiming he had mistaken the account for a long‑standing online harasser who creates fake profiles. He said, “I wish I was hacked…,” and later deleted the explicit message. He posted an apology and explained the incident as a misunderstanding caused by the alleged harasser’s activity.