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Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O’Connor responds to allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a minor
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor has publicly addressed allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to a minor via Instagram, after screenshots and a first-hand account were shared on Reddit over the weekend. He said he mistook the fan for a different, unrelated person who has repeatedly created and deleted fake social media accounts to "mess with" him over the years, and that after "a long night" he reached out with a "tasteless meme" believing he was confronting this recurring antagoniser, only to realise minutes later he had targeted the wrong person.
The Reddit post that sparked the claims came from a fan who said she was 16, with her age listed in her bio, when she received a suggestive meme and an "erotic image" from O'Connor late one night after liking several of his Instagram stories; he reportedly cited tiredness and partying before unsending some messages. O'Connor said he unsent the messages and stopped contact as soon as he realised his mistake, apologised for the stress caused, and acknowledged some people may not believe his account. He has been a member of Modest Mouse since 2021 and featured on the band's album 'An Eraser And A Maze', released in June 2026; no further developments have followed his statement.
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In short
- O'Connor denies deliberately targeting a minor with messages
- Says he mistook fan for a known "trolling" impersonator
- He apologised; no further updates have emerged since
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor has denied predatory intent after Reddit screenshots emerged appearing to show him sending a suggestive meme to a fan who says she was 16, claiming he confused her with a serial impersonator, unsent the messages within minutes and apologised for the stress caused.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The guitarist's account of mistaken identity is coherent and specific—if someone has indeed been harassing him through fake accounts, the confusion is plausible. His claim of immediately ceasing contact and unsending the messages demonstrates recognition of the error and corrective action. Whilst the conduct was inappropriate regardless, a genuine mistake during a distracted evening differs substantially from deliberate targeting, and fairness requires considering his explanation rather than assuming malicious intent.
The case against
Even accepting the mistaken-identity account, an adult should never send suggestive or erotic content to someone with their age displayed as 16—this reflects either serious negligence or deliberate behaviour, both deeply troubling. The explanation, whilst specific, remains unverifiable and convenient; responsibility rests with the adult to ensure appropriate conduct regardless of how they perceive someone's identity. The harm caused to the young person must weigh heavily in assessing credibility, and the musician's demonstrated poor judgment around minors is concerning independent of his stated intentions.
Explained simply
Modest Mouse are a long-running American indie rock band, best known for songs like "Float On". Simon O'Connor is a guitarist who joined the group in 2021 and has played on their most recent album, released in June this year.
The story concerns claims first posted on Reddit that O'Connor sent inappropriate messages, including a suggestive image, to a fan who was 16 at the time, after she had interacted with his social media posts. O'Connor has since put out his own account of events, saying he confused the fan with someone else who has repeatedly set up fake profiles to target him.
The case matters because it touches on how musicians interact with young fans online, and on the difficulty of verifying private messaging claims that surface first on social media rather than through formal channels. At this stage, the allegations and O'Connor's explanation both rest on accounts posted online, with no independent confirmation of what took place.
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Originally published by NME as “Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O’Connor responds to allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a minor”.