Ariana Grande takes legal action against alleged hackers after unreleased music leaks

Grande's lawsuit says that 45 unreleased songs were stolen and leaked in 2023 alone

Ariana Grande is taking legal action against alleged hackers accused of repeatedly stealing and leaking her unreleased music, saying the incidents have caused "irreparable harm" and that she intends to find those responsible.

The singer filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against two unidentified defendants, referred to as John Does, alleging they hacked personal digital accounts belonging to photographers and producers who have worked closely with her. According to the complaint, the alleged hackers obtained unreleased songs, photographs and video and audio recordings that were never intended to be made public.

Grande's legal team claims the alleged hacking has been happening for years. The lawsuit says that 45 unreleased songs were stolen and leaked in 2023 alone, while hundreds of similar leaks have allegedly occurred since Grande began her music career in 2011. Her lawyers also allege that private photographs and other material were obtained through phishing attacks.

The complaint claims the stolen material was subsequently distributed or sold online, including through the dark web. Grande's lawyers argue that the leaks have interfered with her ability to control when and how her music is released, while also potentially affecting marketing plans and the commercial value of unreleased material.

Rather than simply suing the unidentified defendants, Grande is attempting to use the courts to uncover who they are. Her lawyers have sought information from online platforms and service providers that could help identify the accounts allegedly involved in obtaining or distributing the stolen material.

A judge has now allowed Grande's legal team to fast-track subpoenas seeking account, subscriber and login information. The decision means her lawyers do not have to wait through the usual 16-day period before beginning the discovery process, with the court agreeing that there was good reason to move quickly because relevant digital information could otherwise disappear.

The subpoenas are expected to involve platforms and services including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and Discord, as well as payment platforms such as PayPal and Cash App. Grande is not accusing those companies themselves of participating in the alleged hacking. Instead, her lawyers want information they may hold that could help identify the people behind the accounts.

Grande has previously made clear how angry she is about her unreleased music appearing online. During a 2024 appearance on the Zach Sang Show, she addressed the leak of her unreleased song Fantasize, which had spread widely on TikTok.

"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," Grande said at the time. She described the leaked material as music that had been written for a television project and accused those responsible of stealing it.

Fantasize was not originally intended to be a Grande release, but the song became popular after it leaked. Grande later incorporated some of the creative ideas from her unreleased material into her official work, including her Eternal Sunshine era.

The legal action now gives new meaning to her earlier warning that she would pursue those responsible. Her lawyers say the lawsuit is intended not only to protect Grande but also to deter similar attacks against other artists.

"Artists deserve the right to control how and when their art is shared with the world," a source close to Grande previously told People, adding that the unlawful theft and distribution of creative work should not be tolerated.

The case is still in its early stages, and the people accused by Grande have not been publicly identified or formally established to have committed the alleged crimes. The next stage of the case will focus on whether the information obtained through the subpoenas can reveal their identities.

For Grande, however, the message is already clear: she does not consider the repeated leaks harmless fan activity. She is now using the courts to try to identify the people she says have been stealing her work and hold them accountable.