Photo Credit: Ariana Grande by Emma Sheehan / CC by 2.0
Ariana Grande is suing a group of anonymous hackers she says have targeted her inner circle, stealing unreleased music, private photos, and more.
Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against at least two unidentified hackers who allegedly stole unreleased music, private photos and videos from Grande and her inner circle, and behind-the-scenes content. The lawsuit claims the hackers sold the stolen content on the dark web and leaked 45 unreleased songs in 2023 alone.
According to the filing on July 27, Grande is suing the John Does for allegedly hacking “various personal digital accounts of photographers and producers who have worked closely” with her. She claims this has resulted in “unlawful and egregious theft, dissemination, and exploitation of unreleased content.”
Grande also asserts that the hackers profited from the stolen content after they sold “personal data and content on the dark web for significant sums of money.” The content includes unreleased songs, photos, videos, and audio recordings taken during her creative process that were “not intended for public consumption.”
“In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Ms. Grande were hacked, stolen, and leaked by Defendants,” the complaint reads. “Since her music debut in 2011, hundreds of similar leaks have taken place.”
The filing notes that the singer is taking legal action in order to uncover the identities of the hackers. The action also intends to “serve as a deterrent against future acts of this nature—not only targeting Ariana, but also the many artists who have faced similar invasions of their privacy and theft of their creative work,” a source closer to the matter told People. “Artists deserve the right to control how and when their art is shared with the world.”
The most recent leak happened in 2024, when a phishing campaign targeted a technician employed by a photographer who had worked with Grande. The hackers created an email account and website impersonating the photographer and convinced the technician into sending Grande’s material to them, according to the singer. Tracks from Grande that have leaked include “Fantasize,” “White Tee,” and “That Bitch is Mine.”
