Updated July 9, 2026, 6:49 p.m. ET
The New York Knicks are still basking in the glow of their NBA championship, alleviating 53 years of disappointment and frustration as the team and its fans continue to celebrate weeks after their title run.
But the Knicks’ feel-good news stories amid that championship appear to be short-lived.
According to a Wired article, celebrities and other dignitaries who have attended home games at Madison Square Garden have been assigned “risk” scores. The database also tracked celebrities’ race, gender identity, and sexual orientation; even labeling nearly 100 people as “LGBTQIA.” There are nearly 40,000 entries in the “talent” database, each with specific labeling designations.
Wired reported in April that security staff for Knicks owner Jim Dolan tracked a trans woman’s movements using that surveillance and spying on her for the better part of two years. On June 12, ShinyHunters, a hacking group, said it would leak nearly 26 million records if MSG didn’t fork over a ransom demand. Four days later, they released those records and are now facing three class-action lawsuits alleging the publishing of personal data, which was stolen from the World’s Most Famous Arena.
“Wired’s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing legal remedies,” a Madison Square Garden spokesperson told USA TODAY.
This newly reported database is hardly surprising, as it was reported years ago that the arena was using facial recognition technology on those entering the facility.
The database is part of a much larger trove of documents published last month by ShinyHunters, a criminal hacker collective.
Some celebrities who have a “DO NOT HOST” tag include hip-hop producer Pete Rock, actor Will Harrison, comedian Adam Pally, and actress Julia Fox.
The database lists rapper Lil Tjay, who got into a fight with security at The Theater during a boxing match in February 2025, as “BANNED FROM MSG.”
Some of the “low risk” people on the list include actors Mariska Hargitay, Edie Falco, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, musicians Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, and Benson Boone, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.
The “medium risk” folks include actors Lily Allen, David Harbour, and country singer Morgan Wallen. A few hip-hop artists appear on the “high risk” side of the database, including Freddie Gibbs, Lil Jon, DaBaby, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
New York LGBTQ+ group reacts to MSG’s alleged tracking
The NEW Pride Agenda, a New York LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, responsed to the reporting that Madison Square Garden security officials maintained a list of LGBTQ+ celebrities, following accusations that the organization also tracked a trans woman over a period of time:
“What is happening at Madison Square Garden cannot be separated from what is happening in the White House. The Trump administration’s efforts to erase LGBTQ+ people from public life are now being replicated by MSG’s security apparatus — the same system previously exposed for surveilling a trans woman is now revealed to have maintained lists of LGBTQ+ celebrities. This is power unchecked: deciding who belongs in public.
“As New Yorkers, we adore the Knicks, and we love the culture of joy and community that Madison Square Garden represents. From championship celebrations to celebrity events and concerts, MSG is indeed the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena.’ That is exactly why these revelations are so troubling: they poison a place that is supposed to be accessible to all. …
“We call on city and state officials to urgently investigate these actions, hold those responsible accountable, and protect the safety and civil liberties of LGBTQ+ people — not only for New Yorkers, but for the countless LGBTQ+ visitors who look to this city as a global symbol of freedom.”
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