Ariana Grande is done letting music leakers have the last laugh.
The pop superstar has launched legal action against two unidentified individuals she says hacked into the private digital accounts of photographers and producers in her inner circle, allegedly walking away with a treasure trove of unreleased material.
According to a complaint filed on Monday, July 27, the stolen content includes unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes photos, and video and audio recordings from Grande’s creative process–material she says was never meant to be seen or heard by the public.
The lawsuit also claims the alleged hackers cashed in by selling the stolen files on the dark web.
“In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Ms. Grande were hacked, stolen, and leaked by Defendants,” the complaint alleged. “Since her music debut in 2011, hundreds of similar leaks have taken place.”
Grande is also asking the court to help identify the people behind the alleged cyberattacks.
“The lawsuit is intended to serve as a deterrent against future acts of this nature — not only targeting Ariana, but also the many artists who have faced similar invasions of their privacy and theft of their creative work,” a source close to Grande told People magazine.
“Artists deserve the right to control how and when their art is shared with the world. The unlawful theft and distribution of creative work undermines that right and should not be tolerated.”
Ironically, the singer joked about sending leakers to jail long before this lawsuit became reality.
While promoting Eternal Sunshine on the Zach Sang Show, she reacted to the viral leak of Fantasize with a warning that now feels surprisingly prophetic.
“He’s just been such an incredible friend these past few years,” she said of Max Martin.
“We were — before I left for Wicked — a few studio sessions that I did which are all over TikTok, thank you so much, I’ll see you in jail. Literally,” she continued.
“Those were all written for a TV show, for something that was not for me, so ‘Fantasize’ comes out, crazy, was stolen … these pirates, crooks, illegal!”
