Ariana Grande Sues Anonymous Hackers Over Stolen Music and Footage
Pop star Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit in California state court against a group of unnamed individuals she says carried out phishing scams and hacking attacks to obtain and distribute her unreleased material.
Lawsuits Claims and Legal Basis
The complaint alleges that the hackers unlawfully accessed the personal digital accounts of photographers and producers who work closely with Grande, stole unpublished songs, behind‑the‑scenes footage and music videos, and then sold the content online for large sums of money.
According to the filing, the theft violates California’s Comprehensive Data Access and Fraud Act, constitutes invasion of privacy, and amounts to civil theft. Grande’s legal team is asking a judge to uncover the identities of the “John Does,” order the return of the stolen items and prohibit any further unlawful conduct.
Pattern of Illegal Activity
The lawsuit outlines a pattern in which the defendants repeatedly targeted collaborators’ accounts. In 2019, they reportedly obtained login credentials for a photographer’s Dropbox and downloaded unpublished photos. In 2020, they hacked a producer’s mobile device, acquiring unreleased masters and demo recordings that were still in production.
The stolen material, which includes dozens of unreleased tracks, has been sold in bulk through payment platforms such as PayPal and Cash App, the suit says.
Scale of the Leaks
Grande’s complaint notes that 45 of her unreleased songs were hacked, stolen and leaked in 2023 alone, and that similar leaks have occurred since the start of her career in 2011.
Public Reaction and Past Comments
Grande previously discussed the leaks on The Zach Sang Show, saying that her unreleased song “Fantasize” appeared on TikTok without her permission. She described the recordings as “real leaks” and warned that the unauthorized distribution could lead to legal consequences.
Upcoming Album ‘Petal’
The lawsuit comes as Grande prepares to release her eighth studio album, “Petal,” slated for July 31. The record is executive produced and co‑written with Swedish songwriter Ilya, and Grande describes it as “full of life and growing through the cracks of something cold, hard and challenging.”
