Pop star takes legal aim at anonymous hackers who stole her unreleased songs, photos and videos for years.
Ariana Grande has spent more than a decade watching unfinished songs and private moments slip online without her say. On Monday she decided enough was enough. She filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against unidentified hackers she says targeted people closest to her creative work.
The complaint, reported by Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter and others, accuses the “John Does” of a years-long campaign. They allegedly phished, stole credentials and hacked devices belonging to photographers and producers who worked with Grande. Once inside, they grabbed unreleased masters, demos, recording-session footage, music-video material and private photos. Much of it later appeared on the dark web for sale.
Years of leaks, one clear breaking point
In 2019, according to the filing, hackers stole Dropbox login details from a photographer who had shot Grande. The next year a producer’s phone was compromised, releasing still-in-progress tracks and studio video. In 2023 alone, the lawsuit states, 45 of her unreleased songs hit the internet. A 2024 phishing scam impersonated another photographer and tricked a technician into handing over more material.
Tracks that surfaced include “Fantasize,” “White Tee” and “That Bitch is Mine.” Grande has spoken about the frustration before. In a 2024 interview she told the people behind “Fantasize,” “I’ll see you in jail, literally.” Now her lawyers are trying to make that happen.
The suit claims the thefts forced her to re-record material, scramble release plans and suffer economic harm. It also calls the leaks a “malicious invasion” of the private creative process she shares with fans. Grande is seeking court orders to unmask the hackers through internet providers, the return of stolen files, and an injunction against further leaks.
A source close to the singer told People the case is meant as a deterrent for other artists facing the same problem. “Artists deserve the right to control how and when their art is shared with the world,” the source said.
Grande remains one of pop’s biggest names. Her new album Petal is out, and she is preparing a run of London shows. The lawsuit shows she is no longer willing to treat the constant leaks as the cost of fame.