Alanis Morissette has taken legal action against her former tour manager, accusing her of engaging in a deliberate blackmail scheme to implicate her in drug trafficking unless Morissette agreed to a long-term contract. The lawsuit, filed in California and obtained by CBC News, alleges that Keren Urinov threatened to report Morissette to British authorities for drug trafficking unless she hired her as a tour director for 15 years and provided substantial compensation.
Morissette is suing Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, asserting that she will not succumb to the blackmail demands and has initiated legal proceedings to expose Urinov’s actions and hold her responsible.
The dispute arose when Urinov, a former employee of Live Nation’s Israeli division, was hired as a temporary tour manager for Morissette’s global tour in 2025. During a trip from the U.K. to Spain for a concert, a bag owned by Urinov was flagged by British Border Force officials, leading to her arrest for alleged possession of marijuana and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer. Urinov was detained but later released after presenting her Israeli medical marijuana license to authorities.
Subsequently, Urinov allegedly made repeated attempts to extort Morissette by threatening legal action if Morissette did not comply with her demands for an extended contract and additional benefits. The lawsuit claims that Urinov demanded a fixed 15-year contract with substantial financial compensation and other privileges, including assistance in obtaining a work visa for the United States.
Morissette also raised concerns about Urinov’s management of the 2025 tour, citing instances of financial mismanagement and undisclosed criminal history, including a past arrest related to drug smuggling in Latin America. Despite being reluctant to resort to legal action, Morissette felt compelled to sue to resist what she deemed as coercion and manipulation by Urinov.
Morissette is seeking a trial by jury in this matter. CBC News has attempted to contact Urinov and representatives for Morissette for their comments but has not received a response yet.
