Madison Square Garden filed a defamation lawsuit against Wired Magazine, Wired reporter Noah Shachtman, and related parties in New York on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
The lawsuit is related to Wired‘s report about an alleged database that tracked and categorized hundreds of celebrities based on risk levels and LGBTQIA designations. Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., or MSG Entertainment, denies the outlet’s characterization of the information.
Wired has since issued a statement in response to the lawsuit, saying they plan to “vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit.”
What MSG Entertainment is alleging in the lawsuit
MSG Entertainment alleges Wired and contributing editor Noah Shachtman used stolen raw data from an “extortionist hacking group” and “cherry-picked fragments” to create a false narrative that the company discriminated against or surveilled LGBTQIA celebrities. The company claims the reporters produced the disputed “list” by manipulating or sorting the underlying data.
The lawsuit stated “nothing could be further from the truth” and they they fervently support the LGBTQIA community “with a long history of inclusion, not exclusion,” adding the article “reflects shockingly unethical conduct.”
What Wired‘s original report said
Wired reported that an internal database contained approximately 39,000 public-figure profiles with roughly 400 celebrities reportedly given risk designations. Reported labels included “low risk,” “medium risk,” “high risk,” and “do not host.” Some celebrities were also supposedly banned from receiving complimentary tickets.
For example, Selena Gomez was alleged labeled “low-risk” while Adam Pally supposedly is “not to be hosted.”
Why MSG disputes the LGBTQIA characterization
MSG Entertainment says the info came from a standard customer-relationship platform. According to the lawsuit, the data was used for purposes including event invitations, sponsorship opportunities, charitable outreach, and LGBTQIA community initiatives.
“MSG has a longstanding record of supporting LGBTQIA employees, guests, fans, and community organizations,” the lawsuit reads. “MSG and its affiliated entities have contributed hundreds of thousands to Pride and LGBTQIA organizations and initiatives, in addition to thousands in tickets vouchers.”
They argued that their support for LGBTQIA communities “extends beyond donation,” with the Radio City Rockettes working frequently with the Ali Forney Center through their Conservatory Program.
“MSG maintains an active Pride Employee Group with approximately 285 employees. In 2025, the Pride Employee Resource Group held local networking events throughout Pride Month, supported employee-sponsored menu activations spotlighting LGBTQIA chefs, participated in the Ali Forney Center gala table, and attended the Rainbow Run event,” the document continued, noting the group also participated in multiple Pride events in 2026 as well.
How the information became public
The records were reportedly involving the hacking group ShinyHunters, meaning it was not “lawfully obtained.”
The collective reportedly gained “unauthorized access to MSG’s systems in June 2026 through a social-engineering attack that compromised an employee’s multifactor-authentication credentials,” and extracted data from Salesforce before publishing it online “after MSG declined to pay a ransom.”
What MSG is seeking from Wired
According to the documents, MSG Entertainment is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory, presumed, special, and punitive damages, along with a correction or retraction, applicable legal costs and any other relief the court considers appropriate. The company has also requested a jury trial.
Wired issues a statement in response
Wired issued a response on its social media accounts on Thursday night (July 16).
“Earlier today, WIRED learned that Madison Square Garden was suing us for our accurate reporting,” the statement began. “We stand by this reporting, and plan to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit. 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.”
A statement from WIRED leadership. pic.twitter.com/06d9qTD9dy
— WIRED (@WIRED) July 17, 2026
Posted To:James Dolan Madison Square Garden Wired