Ariana Grande (33) is taking legal action against alleged hacking attacks. The singer filed a lawsuit last Monday in Los Angeles against unknown individuals who are referred to as "John Does" in the proceedings. This is reported by the magazine "People" and the trade publication "Variety", both of which have obtained copies of the lawsuit. Grande is demanding a jury trial.
The allegation: The individuals allegedly gained access to private accounts and devices through phishing and hacking attacks. Photographers and producers who worked closely with the musician were reportedly affected. The lawsuit describes an "unlawful and outrageous theft" as well as the distribution and exploitation of unreleased content.
Songs, photos and studio recordings
According to the lawsuit, unreleased songs, photographs, as well as video and audio recordings created during the creative process were stolen. This material was not intended for public release. The data was then allegedly resold on the dark web for substantial sums.
The lawsuit outlines a pattern spanning several years. In 2019, the unknown individuals allegedly obtained login credentials to the Dropbox account of a photographer who had worked with Grande. A year later, a producer's cell phone was reportedly affected, with the attackers allegedly obtaining unreleased master tapes, demos, and recordings from studio sessions.
In 2023 alone, according to the plaintiff's account, 45 unreleased songs were stolen and posted online. The lawsuit cites another case from 2024: The defendants allegedly created a Gmail address and a domain to impersonate a photographer. A technician then handed over unreleased images. Since Grande's musical debut in 2011, there have been hundreds of such leaks, according to the document.
Lawsuit intended as deterrent
A central goal of the proceedings is to first establish the identity of the alleged perpetrators. The lawsuit states that the aim is to hold the previously unknown individuals accountable for their actions. It is important to Grande to prevent such behavior as much as possible, also on behalf of others.
A person close to the singer told "People" that the lawsuit is not directed solely at attacks on Grande. "Artists have the right to determine how and when their art is shared with the world", according to the source. The unlawful theft and distribution of creative work undermines this right and must not be tolerated.
