Ariana Grande filed a lawsuit on July 27, 2026, in Los Angeles County Superior Court against unidentified hackers known as John Doe 1 and John Does 2 through 100 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The lawsuit alleges the hackers stole and leaked unreleased songs, private photos, and video footage by targeting collaborators such as photographers, producers, and technicians [1, 2, 3, 4].
Court documents reveal that in 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs by Grande were stolen and leaked [1, 2, 3, 4]. The hackers sold some of this stolen material on the dark web for significant sums of money [1, 2, 4]. They impersonated a photographer to trick an employee into sending unreleased photos of Grande [1, 2, 4].
The stolen items include unreleased masters, demos, recording session footage, music videos, and behind-the-scenes photos and videos [1, 3]. The lawsuit accuses the hackers of invasion of privacy, violation of California computer hacking laws, and conversion [1, 2, 4]. It seeks to identify the culprits and hold them accountable [1, 2, 3, 4].
Grande said, "Before I left for Wicked - [there were] a few studio sessions that I did which are all over TikTok, thank you so much, I'll see you in jail. Literally." Her lawsuit states, "This malicious invasion of Ms Grande’s privacy and disruption of her career have caused her substantial and irreparable harm due to this breach of privacy." It adds, "The unauthorized misappropriation and disclosure of these materials is a violation of Ms Grande’s identity and artistry, and the direct and sacred relationship that exists between her and her fans … Neither Ms Grande nor any other public or private figure should have to suffer such violations caused by these wrongdoers who hide in the shadows and wreak technological havoc with impunity." [1, 2]
Leaks include the song "Fantasize," co-written with Max Martin, which went viral after being posted online [1].
The hacking incidents date back to 2019 when hackers stole photos from a photographer's Dropbox account. In 2020, unreleased footage was taken from a producer’s hacked mobile device, and in 2024 phishing emails were used to obtain unreleased photos from a technician working with Grande’s team [3].
Ariana Grande has earned 20 Grammy nominations, winning three times, with seven previous albums reaching number one or two on US charts [2]. She is currently on a world tour scheduled to visit the UK in August 2026, possibly her last for a while, and will begin a 10-night concert run starting August 15 at London’s O2 Arena [1, 2].
Her eighth studio album, "Petal," is set to release on August 7, 2026 [1, 2].
