Madison Square Garden allegedly kept an internal database of celebrities and VIPs that included labels for sexuality, racial identity, and “risk” levels. In a new report by Wired, journalists Noah Shachtman and Maddy Varner examined documents that were published last month by the criminal hacker collective ShinyHunters and first covered by 404 Media. Among 39,539 entries in the New York City venue’s “talent” database, 93 people in the database were flagged as “LGBTQIA,” including Phoebe Bridgers, Ricky Martin, and Geese guitarist Emily Green.
Some celebrities’ race and gender identity were also noted in the database, but not consistently. Around 400 celebrities were reportedly assigned a “risk” score; Freddie Gibbs, Lil Jon, DaBaby, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie were among those labelled “high risk,” while Morgan Wallen, Lily Allen, and Jadakiss were marked “medium risk.” Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, and Benson Boone were deemed “low risk.”
Some of the artists listed have already responded on social media. Geese drummer Max Bassin wrote on Instagram Stories: “Fuck you James Dolan, you absolutely disgust me.” Freddie Gibbs tweeted, “D’Fuck I got to do with this?”
Dolan is the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment, the company behind MSG, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and The Chicago Theatre. He is also the executive chairman and CEO of MSG Sports, which includes the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, as well as Sphere Entertainment, which includes the Sphere in Las Vegas. According to reports, hip-hop producer and longtime Knicks fan DJ Pete Rock is currently marked as “DO NOT HOST” in the database, which he believes is connected to his previous call for a boycott of Dolan after former Knicks player Charles Oakley was forcibly removed from the venue. “You can’t stop me from being a Knick fan, but your controlling behavior towards people is very unprofessional,” Rock told Wired.
In a press statement, an MSG spokesperson said, “Wired‘s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing legal remedies.”
