Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against hackers who she alleges have stolen unreleased music, as well as private photos and video footage, and sold them online. The pop star filed the complaint in a Los Angeles court on Monday, targeting unidentified individuals referred to as John Doe. Grande aims to use the legal process to identify the hackers “in order to hold them accountable for their invasive and reprehensible conduct,” according to the lawsuit.
Details of the Alleged Hacking
As reported by Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter, the hackers allegedly accessed the online accounts of various people working with Grande, leading to the leaking of 45 songs in 2023 alone. In one instance, Grande alleges a hacker impersonated a photographer to dupe an employee into sending images of Grande to them. Behind-the-scenes photos and footage from recording sessions and music videos are also alleged to have been stolen. The assets are said to have been sold on the dark web.
Impact on Grande and Her Career
“This malicious invasion of Ms Grande’s privacy and disruption of her career have caused her substantial and irreparable harm due to this breach of privacy,” the lawsuit reads. “The unauthorised misappropriation and disclosure of these materials is a violation of Ms Grande’s identity and artistry, and the direct and sacred relationship that exists between her and her fans … Neither Ms Grande nor any other public or private figure should have to suffer such violations caused by these wrongdoers who hide in the shadows and wreak technological havoc with impunity.”
Grande remains one of the most successful pop artists in the world, with seven albums that have all reached No 1 or No 2 in the US charts. She is a 20-time Grammy nominee and three-time winner. Her single “Hate That I Made You Love Me” is currently the third most-streamed song globally on Spotify each day and a chart-topper in the US and UK. The track is taken from her new album Petal, released on Friday.
Acting Ventures and Upcoming Projects
Grande has also successfully branched out into acting in recent years, taking a lead role in Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good. She also starred opposite Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in the latest instalment of the Meet the Parents franchise, Focker-in-Law, released in November. In 2027, she will appear alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in a stage production of the Sondheim musical Sunday in the Park with George at London’s Barbican. She begins a 10-night run of concerts at London’s O2 Arena on 15 August.
