Alanis Morissette has taken legal action against her former tour manager, accusing her of engaging in a deliberate blackmail scheme to incriminate Morissette for drug trafficking unless she agreed to sign a long-term contract. The lawsuit, filed in California and acquired 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 significant compensation.

Morissette is suing Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, stating that she refuses to succumb to the blackmailer’s demands and has initiated legal proceedings to expose the scheme and hold Urinov accountable.

The dispute arose when Urinov, previously associated with Live Nation’s Israeli operations, was appointed as a temporary tour manager for Morissette’s global tour in 2025. During a trip from the U.K. to Spain for a concert, Urinov was allegedly involved in an incident at the airport where a bag containing marijuana and xylazine was flagged by British authorities. Although Urinov was initially detained, she was later released after presenting her Israeli medical marijuana license.

Following the tour’s conclusion, Urinov purportedly sent a series of threatening letters to Morissette and her legal team, demanding a fixed 15-year contract with substantial compensation and other benefits, including assistance in obtaining a work visa for the United States.

The lawsuit also sheds light on Morissette’s concerns about Urinov’s competence as a tour manager, citing incidents such as overspending on a hotel booking error and undisclosed past legal issues related to drug smuggling in Latin America. Morissette maintains that she was left with no choice but to take legal action against Urinov, emphasizing her refusal to collaborate with an incompetent blackmailer or meet extortionate demands.

Morissette is seeking a trial by jury in this matter. CBC News has attempted to contact Urinov and Morissette’s representatives for their response to the allegations.