Alanis Morissette has initiated legal action against her former tour manager, accusing her of orchestrating a coercive scheme to implicate the singer in drug trafficking unless she agreed to an extensive contractual agreement. The lawsuit, filed in California and obtained by CBC News, alleges that Keren Urinov, the former tour manager, threatened to report Morissette to British authorities for drug trafficking unless Morissette hired her as a tour director for a 15-year term with significant compensation.
Morissette is suing Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, asserting that she refuses to succumb to blackmail and is taking legal action to expose the scheme and hold Urinov accountable.
The incident unfolded in 2025 when Urinov, previously employed by Live Nation’s Israeli operations, joined Morissette’s world tour as a temporary tour manager. During a trip from the U.K. to Spain for a concert, Urinov was reportedly detained by British Border Force officials at the airport after a bag belonging to her was flagged for containing marijuana and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer. Urinov, who possessed a medical marijuana license from Israel, was released after admitting ownership of the bag and its contents.
However, following the tour’s conclusion, Urinov allegedly sent a series of threatening letters to Morissette and her legal team, demanding a long-term contract with substantial compensation in exchange for not pursuing legal action in the U.K. The letters also stipulated that Morissette arrange for an immigration lawyer to secure a work visa for Urinov in the U.S.
Morissette’s lawsuit further highlights instances where Urinov’s management of the tour was deemed inadequate, including a costly error with a hotel booking and misleading disclosures about her past, such as an undisclosed arrest for drug smuggling in Latin America.
Despite her reluctance, Morissette felt compelled to take legal action against Urinov, emphasizing that she will not be coerced into a prolonged association with an incompetent blackmailer. The singer is seeking a trial by jury in this matter. CBC News has attempted to contact Urinov and Morissette’s representatives for comment but has not received a response.