Alanis Morissette has taken legal action against her former tour manager, accusing her of engaging in a deliberate blackmail scheme aimed at implicating Morissette in drug trafficking unless she agreed to a long-term contract. The lawsuit, filed in California and reported by CBC News, alleges that Keren Urinov threatened to report Morissette to British authorities for drug trafficking unless Morissette hired her as a tour director for 15 years and provided substantial compensation.
Morissette has sued Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, stating that she refuses to be coerced into granting her blackmailer a significant payday. The legal action aims to expose Urinov’s scheme and hold her accountable.
The incident unfolded in 2025 when Urinov, previously associated with Live Nation’s Israeli operations, was hired as a temporary tour manager for Morissette’s global tour. While traveling from the U.K. to Spain for a concert in July 2025, Urinov was allegedly involved in an airport incident where a bag she claimed ownership of was flagged by British authorities for containing marijuana and xylazine, a non-opioid animal tranquilizer.
Following the airport incident, Urinov allegedly sent a series of threatening letters to Morissette, demanding a fixed 15-year contract with high compensation and other benefits, including assistance with obtaining a work visa for the United States. The lawsuit also highlights instances where Urinov’s performance as tour manager was deemed subpar, including significant financial losses due to errors and undisclosed criminal history that posed visa and travel complications.
Despite her reluctance, Morissette felt compelled to take legal action against Urinov, emphasizing her refusal to collaborate with an incompetent blackmailer or succumb to extortion demands. The lawsuit concludes with Morissette seeking a trial by jury. CBC News contacted Urinov and Morissette’s representatives for comment but has not received a response.