Madison Square Garden’s alleged internal database tracking celebrities and fans by “risk” level has triggered a massive class-action lawsuit after hackers leaked 45 gigabytes of sensitive data, exposing deep privacy violations that threaten how venues, labels, and rights holders manage attendee information. The breach, attributed to the ShinyHunters collective, compromises biometric facial recognition logs, background checks, and internal threat assessments for up to 26 million people, forcing industry leaders to reconsider the legal and reputational fallout of collecting such granular personal data.
Secret Celebrity Dossiers and Risk Tags
A Wired report revealed that MSG maintained a detailed talent database categorizing hundreds of celebrities, famous Knicks superfans, and even guests from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding with labels like “DO NOT HOST,” “LGBTQIA,” and varying risk levels from low to high. The database allegedly tracked race, gender identity, and sexual orientation, marking 93 entries as “LGBTQIA,” including Ricky Martin and Phoebe Bridgers. Notably, Fat Joe was labeled “medium risk” despite his close ties to owner James Dolan, likely due to his connection with Jadakiss, who has publicly criticized Dolan and is also flagged as “medium risk.” Low-risk individuals included die-hard Knicks fans Edie Falco, Tracy Morgan, and Ben Stiller, while high-risk figures included rappers like A Boogie wit da Hoodie. Sources indicate these ratings often reflect whether a person has publicly criticized Dolan.
Legal Fallout and Surveillance Concerns
Following the leak, a class-action lawsuit titled Avalo v. MSG Entertainment was filed in New York federal court, alleging MSG’s “troubled history with data privacy” and its continued collection of biometric data despite prior lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny. The suit claims MSG failed to notify affected individuals and inadequately addressed the hack, which exposed home addresses, appearance fees, and direct customer emails. Privacy advocates, including Dario Maestro of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, argue the scandal proves venues should not retain sensitive customer information they cannot secure. The breach also revealed MSG’s use of complimentary tickets to support political candidates via MSG PAC, with nearly 60 entries tied to signing letters or testifying for permit renewals in 2023. MSG has denied the reports as false and is pursuing legal remedies.
For editorial consideration and industry coverage inquiries, contact Radio Facts.
