MSG Files Defamation Lawsuit Against ‘Wired’ Over Article About Surveillance

Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG Entertainment) has filed a defamation lawsuit against Wired, the publication’s corporate owner, Advance Publications, and three of its journalists, accusing them of twisting hacked customer data into a report that alleges the arena “targeted” and tracked “the LGBTQIA community for discriminatory purposes.” The suit also claims that Wired pulled its information from the “dark web” and “cherry-picked” certain claims to paint the company as something it isn’t.

“Wired combed the dark web,” the suit reads. “Obtained data stolen from MSG by an extortionist hacking group, and cherry-picked fragments of that data to manufacture a false narrative portraying MSG as targeting the LGBTQIA community for discriminatory purposes. Nothing could be further from the truth — MSG is a fervent supporter of the LGBTQIA community with a long history of inclusion, not exclusion.”

Later in the suit, MSG claims that Wired published the article, titled “Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities,” on July 16, fully knowing that the information provided held a “reckless disregard for the truth.” The suit also alleged that the publication knowingly spoke to sources with “preexisting biases against MSG” and knew what implications would be concluded with “their headline and framing.”

“Defendants published the Article with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. Defendants knew that the so-called ‘list’ in question was actually a customer relationship platform, not a ‘list’ of gay celebrities or anything of the sort,” MSG’s lawsuit continues. “Moreover, Defendants knew that MSG maintains a separate database for genuine security risks, knew that the sources on whom they relied held preexisting biases against MSG, and knew precisely what implication their headline and framing would convey to readers, having assembled quotes from commentators who confirmed that very implication in advance of publication.”

Furthermore, the complaint recalls Mr. Shachtman previously coming under fire for his selective and unethical journalism, citing accusations that he omitted details as a Rolling Stone editor. That story in question was about former ABC producer James Gordon Meek regarding his connection to a child pornography investigation.

MSG Entertainment filed the complaint on July 16 in Manhattan’s New York Supreme Court. The plaintiffs in the complaint are listed as Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., Madison Square Garden Entertainment Holdings LLC, and Madison Square Garden Sports Corp and are seeking punitive, presumed, and compensatory damages and a trial.

MSG Entertainment is also seeking for Wired to pull the story completely. “As a direct and proximate result of the Article,” MSG’s lawsuit reads. “MSG has suffered and continues to suffer reputational harm. Plaintiffs seek damages and equitable relief, including a retraction and correction, in amounts to be determined at trial.”

Wired responded to MSG’s lawsuit on Thursday, July 16, with a statement of its own, defending its reporting and the story it published.  “Earlier today, Wired learned that Madison Square Garden was suing for our accurate reporting,” the statement reads. “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.” Journalist Noah Shachtman even claimed that “Madison Square Garden’s ridiculous lawsuit actually confirms…the company did, in fact, track the sexual orientation of LGBTQIA celebrities in its talent database.”

Despite Wired’s article, the Garden has asserted that it has a history of supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. MSG explained that the company has made hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to LGBT and Pride organizations and maintains a “Pride Employee Resource Group” with nearly 300.