Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against anonymous hackers who she alleges have stolen and leaked hundreds of unreleased songs, private photos, and behind-the-scenes footage over several years. The complaint was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, naming "John Doe 1" and "John Does 2 through 100" as defendants while pursuing efforts to identify those responsible.
According to court documents, the hackers used a combination of phishing schemes, account intrusions, and device hacks targeting collaborators including photographers, producers, and digital technicians linked to Grande. The complaint details multiple incidents dating back to 2019, when hackers accessed a photographer’s Dropbox account, obtaining unreleased photos. In 2020, a producer’s mobile device was compromised, leading to the theft of unreleased masters, demos, and recording session footage.
The legal filing further alleges that in 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs were stolen and subsequently leaked online. It also claims that since the start of Grande’s career in 2011, hundreds of files have been leaked without her consent. More recent breaches in early 2024 involved phishing attacks where hackers impersonated a photographer through fake email accounts and domains to obtain additional private images.
The stolen material has reportedly been sold on the dark web for significant sums or disseminated through social media platforms and file-sharing services such as WeTransfer and Dropbox. Grande’s lawsuit describes these actions as causing substantial and irreparable harm, including reputational damage and disruption to her creative work.
The complaint also highlights the toll the breaches have taken on Grande’s resources, necessitating extensive investigations, removal of unauthorized content, and the need to re-record some songs to mitigate further losses. Grande is seeking a trial by jury, damages, and court orders requiring the defendants to return all stolen materials and cease any continued distribution.
A source familiar with the case emphasized that the legal action goes beyond recovering lost files, stressing that artists should retain control over how and when their work is shared publicly. The lawsuit represents Grande’s most significant effort to date to address ongoing security violations that have impacted both her career and personal privacy.
Representatives for Ariana Grande declined to comment on the lawsuit. Meanwhile, the singer continues her world tour, with recent sold-out shows in Montreal, and is preparing for the release of her latest album, “Petal,” scheduled for Friday.