MSG is suing Wired over recent surveillance article

Madison Square Garden Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Wired over an article it claims is defamatory, the company announced today. The article, published July 9, alleged that MSG had assigned public figures who had either attended or performed at Madison Square Garden as “low,” “medium,” or “high” risk, alongside a “DO NOT HOST” category. Several artists who are queer or have strong queer fanbases were also labeled “LGBTQIA,” the article reported. 

Wired contributing editor Noah Schachtman, reporter Maddy Varner, and Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond have been named as defendants in the lawsuit, which claims the article was “unethical and inflammatory.” The complaint further alleges that “Wired and Noah Schachtman reported false and purposely misleading “facts” to fit a desired agenda—they took information from a CRM [Customer Relationship Management] platform and manipulated it into a false story of LGBTQIA surveillance, risk, and discrimination.” 

The complaint also alleges that the data in question, which it says was obtained by hacktivists, was acquired unethically and cherry-picked to paint MSG in a negative light. “Wired knew there was no nefarious ‘list’ of gay celebrities—the ‘list’ they refer to was created by Wired from their own manipulation of the stolen data,” the complaint continued. An accompanying statement from MSG highlighted the company’s outreach to LGBTQIA communities, including Pride events and ticket vouchers for queer organizations.

Wired responded with a statement defending its reporting. “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. 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.” 

The lawsuit marks the latest dispute between the publication and MSG. In April, Wired published a report claiming that the venue was tracking trans women and anti-Dolan protesters and sometimes removed them from the venue.

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