Is your favorite indie rock band about to lose some serious cool points? Well, buckle up because Modest Mouse just made a decision that’s got the internet absolutely GAGGING.
Here’s the piping hot tea: Simon O’Connor, the guitarist for the indie darling Modest Mouse, has been BOOTED from the band’s tour faster than you can say “problematic behavior.” And honestly? We’re here for the accountability. According to reports, O’Connor allegedly sent inappropriate messages to a FAN—and not just any fan, but a 16-year-old who clearly had her birthdate visible in her Instagram bio. Yes, you read that correctly. A literal CHILD. The audacity is truly breathtaking.
The band didn’t waste any time addressing this mess. They swiftly removed O’Connor from their upcoming tour dates and released a statement basically saying “nope, not on our watch.” And honestly, in an era where we’re finally calling out predatory behavior in the music industry, Modest Mouse’s quick action is refreshingly not terrible. Though let’s be real—the fact that we’re even having to praise a band for removing a member who was allegedly creeping on a minor is pretty depressing when you think about it.
The internet has ERUPTED over this situation, with fans simultaneously praising the band’s swift response while also expressing their disgust at O’Connor’s alleged behavior. Twitter has been absolutely UNHINGED, with some fans threatening to boycott anyone who still works with him, while others are demanding the band make a more detailed statement about what exactly happened and what steps they’re taking moving forward.
What makes this particularly gross is that the teen fan had her age readily available on her social media—making this less of a “oops, didn’t know” situation and more of a “I saw a minor and decided to slide into her DMs anyway” situation. Yikes on bikes. The whole thing reeks of predatory behavior, and frankly, we’re just grateful the band took immediate action instead of trying to sweep it under the rug like some other problematic music industry figures we could mention.
This scandal serves as yet another reminder that even in the indie rock world, where everyone thinks they’re so enlightened and progressive, creeps can still lurk in the shadows. Stay vigilant, parents. Stay VERY vigilant.
What do you think? A) Modest Mouse handled this correctly and swiftly B) They should have released more details about the situation