Alanis Morissette Sues Ex-Tour Manager in Explosive ‘Blackmail’ Fight Over Drug Trafficking Threat

Alanis Morissette is suing former tour manager Keren Urinov, alleging an extraordinary extortion campaign involving a seized airport bag, drug-trafficking threats and a demand for a 15-year contract.

Alanis Morissette has taken a dramatic legal step against a former member of her touring team, accusing Keren Urinov of orchestrating what the singer calls a “calculated blackmail campaign” involving alleged threats to implicate her in drug trafficking.

Morissette filed the lawsuit on Sept. 1 in federal court in Los Angeles, bringing claims including civil extortion, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. According to the complaint, Keren Urinov allegedly threatened to report Allanis Morissette to British authorities unless the singer agreed to employ her for 15 years and provide substantial compensation.

Urinov denies the blackmail allegations through her attorney and has indicated that she intends to present evidence in court. She also filed a separate legal claim against Morissette in the United Kingdom.

The Airport Incident at the Center of the Lawsuit

The explosive dispute allegedly traces back to Allanis Morissette’s 2025 European tour.

According to the lawsuit, Urinov was working temporarily as Morissette’s tour manager when the singer and her team were traveling from the U.K. to Spain for a concert.

At a British airport, authorities allegedly stopped Urinov after flagging a bag for inspection. The complaint says the bag was found to contain marijuana and xylazine, a non-opioid animal tranquilizer.

Morissette alleges Keren Urinov told British Border Force officers that the bag belonged to her and showed them an Israeli medical marijuana license. She was released, according to the complaint, but was reportedly questioned again the following day after returning to the U.K.

The lawsuit claims Urinov again acknowledged that the bag and its contents belonged to her.

Then Came the Alleged 15-Year Demand

The situation allegedly took a stunning turn after Allanis Morissette’s tour ended.

Morissette claims Urinov and her lawyer began sending a series of increasingly aggressive letters. According to the complaint, Urinov allegedly demanded that Morissette tell British authorities the drugs belonged to the singer.

The lawsuit claims there was another proposed way to resolve the dispute: Morissette could allegedly give Urinov a 15-year, full-time tour director contract, including compensation, annual increases and bonuses.

Urinov allegedly also sought assistance securing a U.S. work visa, with the lawsuit claiming additional compensation would be demanded if the visa could not be obtained.

Morissette rejected the alleged demands.

Morissette Says She ‘Had No Choice’ but to Sue

The singer’s complaint portrays the decision to go to court as a reluctant one.

Morissette alleges that after she refused Urinov’s demands, communications from Urinov’s legal representatives implied that she could face accusations to British authorities involving drug trafficking.

The complaint describes Morissette as refusing to pay what it characterizes as a ransom or accept a lengthy employment arrangement under pressure.

Morissette is seeking more than $75,000 in compensatory damages, punitive damages and a jury trial.

Lawsuit Also Attacks Tour Management

The complaint does not stop at the alleged blackmail dispute.

Morissette also accuses Urinov of poor management during the 2025 tour, including an alleged hotel-booking error that cost nearly $70,000.

The lawsuit further claims Urinov disclosed an alleged past drug-related arrest in Latin America during the tour, which Morissette says would have raised concerns had it been revealed before Urinov was hired.

Those allegations remain disputed and have not been established in court.

Former Manager Has Her Own Case Against Morissette

The legal fight is not one-sided.

Urinov filed a separate claim against Morissette in London’s King’s Bench Division on Aug. 19, before the singer filed her California lawsuit. The precise allegations in that case have not been publicly detailed.

That means the dispute could now unfold on two legal fronts, with both sides preparing to present competing versions of what happened.

For Morissette, the lawsuit represents an aggressive attempt to stop what she alleges was a pressure campaign before it could damage her career and reputation.

For Urinov, the case presents an opportunity to challenge those accusations in court.

For now, the most explosive claims remain allegations and the courts will ultimately have to determine what happened behind the scenes of Morissette’s 2025 tour.