Ariana Grande Sues Hackers for Stealing and Selling Unreleased Music

American pop superstar Ariana Grande has taken legal action against two unknown hackers, filing a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing them of breaching the computers and online accounts of her collaborators. The lawsuit claims the individuals stole unreleased music, photographs, and videos, subsequently selling them on the dark web.

Grande has identified the defendants only as "John Doe," a placeholder used in the U.S. legal system for unknown individuals. Her legal team intends to uncover their identities during the proceedings and hold them accountable for what the lawsuit describes as "intrusive and reprehensible conduct." According to the suit, the hackers allegedly targeted photographers, producers, and other members of Grande's team systematically for years, gaining access to unpublished material.

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They will see themselves in court.

In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs by Grande reportedly surfaced online, and similar incidents have occurred hundreds of times since her 2011 debut. The lawsuit details an instance where one hacker allegedly impersonated a photographer to trick an employee into sending private photos. In another alleged incident from 2025, hackers gained access to a producer's mobile device, obtaining unreleased studio recordings, demo versions, and filming videos, all of which were reportedly sold on the dark web.

Grande's lawsuit asserts claims of invasion of privacy, violation of California's computer hacking laws, and unlawful appropriation of her property. Her attorneys argue that the breaches have caused significant and irreparable harm, damaging her unique relationship with her fans. Grande herself has spoken publicly about issues with leaked music, previously referring to hackers as "pirates and criminals" and jokingly threatening legal action.

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pirates and criminals