Ariana Grande has taken legal action against a group of anonymous hackers. She accuses them of breaking into devices linked to her team and stealing unreleased songs, photos, and video footage for years.
The pop star filed the lawsuit on Monday, July 27, in a Los Angeles court. Her attorneys did not name the hackers directly. Instead, they filed the case against unnamed “John Doe” defendants. The plan is to seek subpoenas from internet service providers and online platforms. Those subpoenas could help track down IP addresses and payment records tied to the leaks.
A pattern going back to 2011
The lawsuit claims Ariana Grande has faced hundreds of leaks since her music career began in 2011. It lays out several specific incidents.
In 2019, hackers reportedly stole login details for a photographer’s Dropbox account. That photographer had worked with Grande before. The hackers allegedly used the access to download unreleased photos.
The following year, the suit claims hackers broke into the phone of a producer who had collaborated with Grande. They allegedly pulled unreleased masters, demo recordings, and footage from recording sessions still in progress.
Then in 2023, the leaks grew larger. According to the complaint, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Grande were stolen and leaked that year alone.
Phishing scheme in 2024
The lawsuit also describes a more elaborate scheme from 2024. Hackers allegedly set up a fake Gmail account and a domain name designed to look like it belonged to a photographer connected to Grande. They used this fake identity to contact a digital technician. The technician was tricked into sending over unreleased photos meant for Grande’s team only.
After obtaining the material, the hackers allegedly sold it in batches through third-party payment services. Some of it reportedly ended up on the dark web.
Grande’s legal team speaks out
Grande’s attorneys describe the years of hacking as “unlawful and egregious.” In the filing, they argue that the thefts violated what they call the sacred bond between Grande and her fans.
The lawyers wrote that no public or private figure should have to endure this kind of repeated violation. They said the goal of the lawsuit is to deter this behavior going forward, both for Grande and for others who could face similar attacks.
A representative for Grande did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
The Fantasize leak
One of the most well-known leaks involved the song “Fantasize.” It surfaced online and gained traction on TikTok in 2024. Grande discussed the leak during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show that year. She explained the track was written for a television project and was never meant to be released as one of her own songs.
She called the people behind the leak “thieves, pirates, crooks” at the time. She also said the reaction to the leaked song ended up shaping part of her album Eternal Sunshine.
- Ariana Grande
