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

Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor is facing allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old fan, according to a report published by Stereogum on Sunday, July 27, 2026.

What was alleged

Screenshots began circulating on Reddit over the weekend purporting to show O'Connor sending a sexually suggestive meme to the fan, along with a separate message referencing the minor's "bikini photos." The screenshots spread publicly online before Stereogum picked up the story.

O'Connor's response

After the screenshots surfaced, O'Connor issued a public response to the allegations. He claimed he had mistaken the fan's account for that of another user, and cited this mix-up as the explanation for the messages. As of the report, Modest Mouse as a band had not issued any further statement on the matter.

What we don't know yet

The story is still developing, and Stereogum and other outlets are continuing to follow it, but no additional official updates were available at the time of the report.