Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) filed a lawsuit against Wired on Thursday, 16 July 2026, just one week after the magazine published a report claiming the company maintained a database of LGBTQ celebrities. The legal action follows an earlier statement from MSG that it intended to sue over the article, which it says presented false and damaging claims about the company's practices.
The company, led by executive chairman James Dolan, argues that the report relied on information stolen during a cyberattack and unfairly suggested that MSG targeted LGBTQ individuals. According to the company, the story ignored the actual purpose of the information and created a misleading narrative that harmed its reputation.
MSG Says Report Was Based on Stolen Data
According to a press release issued by MSG on Thursday, 16 July, the lawsuit names Wired, reporter Noah Shachtman and other related parties connected to the publication of the article. The company alleges that Shachtman searched the dark web, obtained information that had been stolen by an extortion hacking group and selectively used portions of that material to build what MSG describes as a false and misleading report.
MSG also claims that Wired continued to promote the article despite knowing that the company disputed its accuracy. In the lawsuit, the company argues that the publication knowingly repeated claims that portrayed MSG as discriminating against the LGBTQ community, even though it says those allegations are untrue.
The company is now asking the court to hold the publication responsible for the alleged damage caused by the report. MSG says the article misrepresented internal information and left readers with an inaccurate understanding of how the company used the data.
Company Says Database Supported Community Outreach
MSG strongly denies that the information mentioned in Wired's report was collected or used for discriminatory purposes. Instead, the company says the database was created to help improve inclusion efforts and strengthen relationships with members of the LGBTQ community.
According to the company's statement, the information was used to identify people who could be invited to LGBTQ support events, develop sponsorship opportunities, organise charitable donations and assist with community outreach programmes. MSG argues that these activities reflected its efforts to support inclusion rather than exclude or target any group.
A statement from WIRED leadership. pic.twitter.com/06d9qTD9dy
— WIRED (@WIRED) July 17, 2026
The lawsuit further claims that Wired failed to include this broader context in its reporting, leading readers to draw conclusions that the company believes are inaccurate. MSG says that omission resulted in significant reputational harm and prompted the legal action filed this week.
Lawsuit Comes After Earlier Surveillance Reports
The new lawsuit arrives after several years of public attention surrounding MSG's use of facial recognition technology at its venues. The company previously acknowledged using the technology at Madison Square Garden and other entertainment venues operated under its business.
James Dolan has previously faced criticism following reports that facial recognition systems had been used to identify and prevent certain individuals from entering company venues. Those reports sparked wider discussions about privacy, surveillance and the use of biometric technology in public entertainment spaces.
Another update in the Madison Square Garden saga I’ve been covering today for @FOS…
— Ben Horney (@BenHorney) July 16, 2026
MSG has now filed a defamation suit in New York state court against Wired, its parent, and the reporter who wrote the recent report I reference in my story. https://t.co/GxiGKVEycG pic.twitter.com/jlPxwiUph8
Earlier in 2026, Wired also published a separate report alleging that the company's surveillance technology tracked the movements of a transgender woman at Madison Square Garden over a two-year period. That report added to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the company's security practices before the latest legal dispute emerged.
What Happens Next?
The lawsuit is expected to draw attention because it raises questions about the use of hacked information in journalism, corporate privacy and the legal responsibilities of news organisations. Legal experts are likely to watch the case closely as it moves through the courts.
As of Friday, 17 July 2026, no court decision has been issued, and the case remains at an early stage. The material provided also does not include a public response from Wired regarding the lawsuit filed by MSG.
