Full Breakdown
Madison Square Garden’s Secret “Talent” Database Tracks Celebrities’ Identities and Risk Levels
7/10/2026, 4:04:02 PM
Core Event
Madison Square Garden (MSG) operates an on-site surveillance system that uses facial-recognition cameras to log every individual who enters the arena. According to a Wired investigation that relied on documents leaked by the hacker collective ShinyHunters and first reported by 404 Media, MSG maintains a separate “talent” database containing 39,539 entries on musicians, actors, politicians, athletes and other public figures. The files label 93 individuals as “LGBTQIA” and record race, gender identity and a proprietary “risk” score that categorizes subjects as low, medium or high risk. Artists identified in the database include Phoebe Bridgers, Freddie Gibbs, Emily Green (of Geese), Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, Morgan Wallen, Lily Allen, Jadakiss, Pete Rock, Lil Jon, DaBaby and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie.
Data & Statistics
- Total entries: 39,539
- Marked LGBTQIA: 93 (? 0.2 % of entries)
- Assigned “risk” scores: roughly 400 individuals
- Low-risk examples: Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, Benson Boone
- Medium-risk examples: Morgan Wallen, Lily Allen, Jadakiss
- High-risk examples: Freddie Gibbs, Pete Rock, Lil Jon, DaBaby, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
Official Statements & Responses
Pitchfork has contacted representatives of Madison Square Garden and the listed artists for comment; none have responded at the time of publication. The venue’s public communications have not addressed the existence of the talent database or its classification criteria.
Criticism & Opposition
Privacy advocates and LGBTQ rights observers have expressed alarm that MSG’s database records sexual orientation and racial identity without consent, potentially exposing individuals to targeted harassment. One source quoted to Wired explained the risk-scoring rationale:
> “done something in the publicity world, the social media world, that has caught the attention of the wrong people.” — source speaking to Wired
Critics argue that such profiling contravenes expectations of anonymity in public venues and could be used to prioritize security resources based on subjective judgments of “danger.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The leaked documents provide the classification framework but do not disclose how the risk scores are calculated, how often the data are updated, or whether the information is shared with law-enforcement agencies. MSG has not confirmed the database’s scope, nor have any of the listed artists verified the accuracy of the entries attributed to them.
