Ariana Grande is taking legal action after years of allegedly battling the spread of her unreleased music online.
The singer has reportedly filed a lawsuit against individuals accused of hacking into her private files and distributing songs without permission, marking her strongest response yet to the long-running leak controversy.
The legal action follows years of frustration after Ariana Grande’s unreleased songs repeatedly surfaced online through alleged hacks and leaks, allowing unfinished material to spread across the internet without her approval.
Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against several unidentified individuals, accusing them of hacking into the digital accounts of photographers and producers she worked with to steal unreleased songs, private photos, videos, and audio recordings.
It was reported that the singer claims cyberattacks have repeatedly targeted her throughout her career. The suit identifies up to 100 John Does, including alleged hackers and anyone involved in distributing, selling, or buying the material.
The content was sold for large amounts of money on the dark web, says Grande, who states that it caused “substantial and irreparable harm.” The singer is seeking relief from the court to end the alleged theft and distribution, and send a warning to all those involved in leaking stolen material.
Grande believes that artists deserve the final say on the timing and nature of their work’s release, and believes that releasing something that an artist has not yet released is an infringement of their creative and privacy rights, per TMZ.
Hackers Turned Unreleased Song Into Viral Hit
The leak incident wasn’t the first time the singer has faced a leak scandal. In an interview on the “Zach Sang Show” in 2024, Grande admitted that a handful of tracks from her sessions with producer Max Martin have leaked onto the internet without her consent, including the unreleased song “Fantasize.
The song was reported to have been written for an unnamed TV project and not one of her albums. The pop star did not hide her frustration, joking that those responsible would eventually face the consequences. “I’ll see you in jail, literally,” she said, before describing the people behind the leaks as “thieves, pirates, crooks.”
She also admitted she would “pay you more to put it away” after the unfinished song spread across social media. Despite the setback, Grande said some of those early ideas were eventually reworked into new material, although in very different forms.
Ariana Grande Turned Her Frustration Into New Music
Rather than letting the leaks define the project, Grande said the unexpected reaction from fans influenced her creative process. Although “Fantasize” was never intended for release, she acknowledged that listeners embraced it, prompting her to reshape some of its ideas for her “Eternal Sunshine” album.
The singer explained that the versions fans eventually heard were far removed from the leaked recordings, adding that some tracks had even been stolen again before they were officially released.
She also criticized AI-generated songs using her voice, asking, “What are we doing? Why? I hate it.” The experience highlighted the challenges artists face in protecting unfinished work while continuing to create.
Past Copyright Battle Put Another Hit Under Scrutiny
Long before the latest lawsuit over alleged hackers, Grande faced a separate legal challenge involving one of her biggest hits. In 2020, hip-hop artist Josh Stone, who performs as DOT, sued the singer over “7 Rings,” alleging that its chorus copied elements of his 2017 song “You Need It, I Got It” without authorization.
Stone claimed the songs shared striking similarities in their lyrics, rhythm, and note placement, arguing that musicology experts found the hooks nearly identical. He also alleged that he had previously pitched the track to producer Tommy Brown before it was later repurposed into “7 Rings.”
According to PEOPLE, the lawsuit sought monetary damages and the destruction of copies of the song held by the defendants. Although the allegations centered on a very different dispute, the case highlighted how questions over ownership and creative rights have followed some of the singer’s biggest releases.
Ariana Grande Has Navigated Music Disputes Before
Long before the current hacking lawsuit, Grande had already faced legal challenges tied to her music. The Hollywood Reporter shared that in 2013, UK-based Minder Music sued the singer and several music companies, alleging that “The Way” borrowed a recognizable phrase from The Jimmy Castor Bunch’s 1972 hit “Troglodyte” without authorization, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The publisher claimed that the line was sufficiently original to be protected by copyright and wanted damages as well as legal costs and an injunction. As one of the first cases to involve Grande’s catalog in a copyright dispute, the case is part of a pattern of copyright claims that have emerged over her career.
A decade later, the situation has changed, and the singer is now going to court to defend her own songs, which are still unpublished, instead of a released hit.
With the newest case coming to light, can Ariana Grande put an end to the alleged hackers?
