A Los Angeles judge has granted singer Ariana Grande expedited subpoena authority to help identify individuals accused of hacking her accounts and stealing unreleased music, photos, and videos. Judge Mark H. Epstein ruled that Grande does not need to wait the standard 20 days before serving legal notice to defendants, since she cannot identify them without accessing discovery materials first. The judge determined that the waiting period would be impractical given Grande’s inability to locate the alleged hackers through reasonable efforts alone.
Grande filed her invasion of privacy lawsuit in late July, arguing that time is critical in pursuing the case. She contends that the perpetrators are actively concealing their identities through anonymous accounts, fake domain names, and peer-to-peer payment systems that shield their information. The singer emphasizes that without swift access to business records and account data from relevant platforms, crucial evidence could disappear and additional content may be compromised.
According to court documents, the alleged hackers gained access to Grande’s accounts and those of her photographers and producers through stolen credentials and phishing schemes. In 2023 alone, approximately 45 unreleased songs were stolen and leaked. Grande’s legal team claims hundreds of similar unauthorized disclosures have occurred since her 2011 debut, causing significant harm to her career and creative work.
The case is scheduled to return to court on January 25 for a status hearing.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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