Ariana Grande sues hackers who leaked music and videos

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against two unnamed people she alleges hacked into computers and devices used by her collaborators, then leaked unreleased songs, photos and studio footage. The action is aimed in part at identifying the defendants, who are not named in the court papers cited by US media.

According to the BBC’s account of the filing, Grande’s lawyers say the hackers targeted producers, photographers and other associates to obtain material, some of which was allegedly sold on the dark web for large amounts. The documents claim 45 unreleased Grande songs were hacked, stolen and leaked in 2023, and say similar leaks have affected her catalogue since her 2011 music debut.

The suit describes alleged incidents in 2024 and 2025, including an impersonation email aimed at obtaining unreleased photos and a separate breach of a producer’s mobile device that allegedly exposed masters, demos and recording-session footage. Grande is bringing claims including invasion of privacy, conversion and violations of California computer-hacking laws. Her lawyers argue the alleged breaches harmed both her privacy and her career.

The case comes as Grande is preparing to release her eighth studio album, Petal, and while she is on her Eternal Sunshine world tour, which the BBC says is scheduled to reach the UK in August. The dispute highlights a recurring problem for major artists: unfinished songs and visual material can circulate online before release, disrupting planned campaigns and raising legal questions about digital security and ownership.