Madison Square Garden currently uses facial‑recognition cameras to monitor all entrants. A recent Wired report indicates that the venue maintains a detailed database on celebrities, which includes risk ratings and, in some instances, information about sexual orientation and racial identity. Notable individuals in the database include Phoebe Bridgers, Freddie Gibbs, and Emily Green of Geese.
Wired journalists Noah Shachtman and Maddy Varner examined Madison Square Garden documents released last month by the hacker group ShinyHunters, initially reported by 404 Media. Their analysis uncovered 39,539 records in the venue’s “talent” database, covering politicians, athletes, business leaders, and others. The records span from December 2020 to early June 2026.
Out of the nearly 40,000 individuals recorded, 93 are identified as LGBTQIA, including Bridgers, Green, and Ricky Martin. While some entries also note race and gender identity, not all are labeled. Pitchfork has contacted Madison Square Garden and the artists for comment.
Approximately 400 celebrities have been assigned risk scores. A Wired source explains that the venue assigns a risk rating based on publicity or social‑media activity that attracts unwanted attention. Low‑risk individuals include Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, and Benson Boone; medium‑risk figures include Morgan Wallen, Lily Allen, and Jadakiss; high‑risk individuals include Gibbs, Pete Rock, Lil Jon, DaBaby, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.
MSG security monitors the internet and social media for any threatening or negative remarks made by its guests, especially high‑profile figures, with particular focus on comments about James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports and Entertainment.
These surveillance measures, implemented by Dolan, are also applied at his other venues, including The Sphere in Las Vegas and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. MSG currently faces multiple class‑action lawsuits alleging that the exposure of private data resulted from Dolan’s expanded monitoring. Affected individuals are advised to change passwords, enable two‑factor authentication, and freeze their credit with the relevant bureaus.
Transition to Analog at Phoebe Bridgers’ Phones-Free MSG Performance