Madison Square Garden sues media outlet over allegations of secret database tracking celebrity 'risk scores'

Madison Square Garden Entertainment has filed a defamation lawsuit against WIRED magazine over a recent report alleging the venue keeps a secret watchlist of celebrities.

The 40-page lawsuit accuses WIRED of using stolen data to invent a false narrative that MSG maintains an internal blacklist targeting LGBTQ celebrities.

The article, titled "Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities," claims MSG used internal databases to track characteristics of VIP guests and celebrities, including their race, sexual orientation, and gender identity, while assigning "risk scores" to famous fans.

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"WIRED combed the dark web, obtained data stolen from MSG by an extortionist hacking group, and cherry-picked fragments of that data to manufacture a false narrative portraying MSG as targeting the LGBTQIA community for discriminatory purposes," MSG wrote in the lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

MSG accused WIRED and its reporters of intentionally ignoring dozens of normal information fields on the list, such as addresses, phone numbers and dietary restrictions. According to the lawsuit, these mundane fields prove the data was simply part of a standard system used for "relationship management purposes, not discrimination."

WIRED said in a statement on X that it stood by its reporting and vowed to fight the case. "Earlier today, WIRED learned that Madison Square Garden was suing us for our accurate reporting. We stand by this reporting, and plan to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit."

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"We look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan's use of technology across his entertainment empire. It's one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account," they added.

According to the article, MSG’s database contains nearly 40,000 names, with roughly 400 assigned "risk scores" ranging from low risk to "DO NOT HOST." WIRED claimed the scores track social media criticism rather than physical safety threats, allegedly flagging celebrities who speak out against the venue to block them from getting free tickets.

According to WIRED, comedian Adam Pally was labeled "not to be hosted," while hip-hop stars Lil Jon and DaBaby were allegedly categorized as "high risk." Country star Morgan Wallen was also marked as "medium risk." The report also highlighted that close to 100 names were labeled as "LGBTQIA," including pop culture figures Ricky Martin and Phoebe Bridgers.

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The data was initially exposed after the international cybercriminal collective ShinyHunters breached MSG’s systems and dumped 45 gigabytes of files online after Dolan refused to pay an extortion ransom.

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WIRED reported that a member of the hacking group claimed they partially targeted MSG because of Dolan’s past controversial surveillance practices. At his venues, which also include the Las Vegas Sphere and Radio City Music Hall, the faces of everyone who enters are scanned.

Dolan has previously drawn intense scrutiny for using facial recognition technology to enforce a list of people who are not allowed to enter the venues, including lawyers associated with active lawsuits against his company, according to reporting by the New York Times.