Former Modest Mouse guitarist Simon O'Connor has spoken out after allegations surfaced that he sent inappropriate messages to an underage fan.
Videos by Wide Open Country
He addressed the claims in a lengthy Reddit post following his departure from the band.
On Friday, July 31, Modest Mouse announced that O'Connor would not be joining the band's upcoming North American tour.
He has since been replaced by Les Savy Fav guitarist Seth Jabour.
Guitarist Addresses Allegations Following Band Exit
In his Reddit post, O'Connor denied any inappropriate intent and apologized for contacting the individual involved.
"Firstly, I would like to just state that I unequivocally oppose any sexual behavior towards minors, as a human and a parent, it disgusts me," he wrote.
"Throughout my adult life, there has been a person who has popped up from time to time with the intention of, for lack of a better term, messing with me."
"This person creates multiple social media accounts and deletes them. But always posts similar photos that I often recognize from previous accounts."
O'Connor said he noticed a social media profile repeatedly liking his posts and believed it belonged to the same individual.
"With poor judgement, I decided to reach out with a tasteless meme, a sticker that read "Simon calls your bluff," and an attempt to indicate that I recognized the "barrage of likes" and similar photo content from the previous profiles," he wrote.
The guitarist said he quickly realized he had made a mistake and that the account belonged to someone else.
He said he unsent the messages and "immediately ceased communication."
Reddit Post Verified as Investigation Continues
O'Connor also accepted responsibility for contacting the individual and apologized for the impact of his actions.
"They didn't deserve to be put in that position, and I'm sorry for the stress and attention this has brought them," he added.
"I know some people will choose not to believe me, and I understand that. I can't change what's happened. All I can do is tell the truth, take responsibility for my mistake, and apologize."
Reddit moderators later confirmed that the post had been written by O'Connor. However, his representatives have not publicly commented on the allegations.
The controversy began after a Reddit user alleged that, as a 17-year-old fan, they received "an erotic image" from the guitarist.
The user also accused O'Connor of commenting on bikini photos. She claimed the interactions began when they were 16, sharing screenshots that they allege show conversations between the two.
