{"id":2048640,"date":"2026-07-17T11:39:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T08:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048640"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:39:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T08:39:46","slug":"madison-square-garden-sues-wired-for-defamation-over-article-on-keeping-records-of-gay-celebrities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2048640","title":{"rendered":"Madison Square Garden sues WIRED for defamation over article on keeping records of gay celebrities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/msg@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><i class=\"tdb-bread-sep td-icon-right\"><\/i><span>Music News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Madison Square Garden sues WIRED for defamation over article on keeping records of gay celebrities<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>WIRED says it \u201cstands by this reporting, and plans to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Liberty Dunworth<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-17T12:39:46+01:00\">17th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/msg@2000x1270-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"General views around Madison Square Garden on July 2, 2026\" title=\"msg@2000x1270\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">General views around Madison Square Garden on July 2, 2026. CREDIT: Roy Rochlin\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Madison Square Garden has filed a lawsuit against <em>WIRED<\/em>, accusing the outlet of defamation over an article that claimed it was keeping records of gay celebrities.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month <em>WIRED<\/em> ran an article with the headline \u201cMadison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities\u201d, which alleged that the arena kept an internal database of celebrities and VIPs that included labels for sexuality, racial identity and \u201crisk\u201d levels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Shortly after the article went live, a spokesperson for Madison Square Garden denied the reports entirely, telling <em>NME<\/em>: \u201c<em>Wired<\/em>\u2019s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing legal remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, the arena is suing the publication, its ownership, journalists Noah Shachtman, Maddy Varner, and editor Katie Drummond.<\/p>\n<p>The suit was filed yesterday (Thursday July 16) in a New York trial court and claimed defamation and interference with contracts and obligations.<\/p>\n<p><em>WIRED<\/em> is accused of lying in the article to make readers believe that MSG was tracking gay celebrities to exclude them from events \u2013 something which the arena says is a \u201cfalse implication\u201d and the opposite of the truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Madison Square Garden has sued WIRED for defamation, accusing the publication of falsely implying it tracked LGBTQ celebrities in order to exclude them from events.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, WIRED said it stood by its reporting and called the lawsuit &#8220;baseless and ridiculous.&#8221;\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) July 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cDefendants published the Article with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth,\u201d MSG said in their complaint (via <em>Consequence<\/em>). \u201cThis is not the first time Defendants have rushed to publish clickbait in place of facts, but it should be their last.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MSG also said that while it did keep information on celebrities\u2019 sexual orientations, this was only done to \u201cfurther inclusion\u201d and invite members of the LGBTQIA community to events where they could get involved in sponsorship opportunities and community outreach. It added that the information was held in the same regard as details like birthdays and favourite sports teams, and was never used to discriminate.<\/p>\n<p>In their filing, MSG accused <em>WIRED<\/em> of \u201creport[ing] false and purposely misleading \u2018facts\u2019 to generate a story with complete disregard for the truth and their ethical obligations as journalists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>They also described the article as showing \u201cshockingly unethical conduct\u201d, and claimed that the \u201cimplication that MSG maintains a database with a sexual orientation field for exclusionary, discriminatory, security, or risk-based purposes is a lie\u201d. The filing added that \u201cDefendants knew there was no nefarious \u2018list\u2019 of gay celebrities\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>MSG has outlined that it has a history of supporting LGBTQIA causes and organisations, has asked for a jury trial, and is seeking money for compensation from <em>WIRED<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A statement from WIRED leadership. pic.twitter.com\/06d9qTD9dy<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 WIRED (@WIRED) July 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>WIRED<\/em> have shared a response to the lawsuit on X too, defending the claims laid out in the original article.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe stand by this reporting, and plan to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit,\u201d their statement read.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan\u2019s use of technology across his entertainment empire. It\u2019s one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div 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data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Claudia-Winkleman-BAFTA-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Claudia Winkleman quits chat show after one season: \u201cI was just too nervous to enjoy it\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Madison Square Garden has filed a lawsuit against <em>WIRED<\/em>, accusing the outlet of defamation over an article that claimed it was keeping records of gay celebrities.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month <em>WIRED<\/em> ran an article with the headline \u201cMadison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities\u201d, which alleged that the arena kept an internal database of celebrities and VIPs that included labels for sexuality, racial identity and \u201crisk\u201d levels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Shortly after the article went live, a spokesperson for Madison Square Garden denied the reports entirely, telling <em>NME<\/em>: \u201c<em>Wired<\/em>\u2019s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing legal remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, the arena is suing the publication, its ownership, journalists Noah Shachtman, Maddy Varner, and editor Katie Drummond.<\/p>\n<p>The suit was filed yesterday (Thursday July 16) in a New York trial court and claimed defamation and interference with contracts and obligations.<\/p>\n<p><em>WIRED<\/em> is accused of lying in the article to make readers believe that MSG was tracking gay celebrities to exclude them from events \u2013 something which the arena says is a \u201cfalse implication\u201d and the opposite of the truth.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Madison Square Garden has sued WIRED for defamation, accusing the publication of falsely implying it tracked LGBTQ celebrities in order to exclude them from events.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, WIRED said it stood by its reporting and called the lawsuit &#8220;baseless and ridiculous.&#8221;\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) July 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cDefendants published the Article with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth,\u201d MSG said in their complaint (via <em>Consequence<\/em>). \u201cThis is not the first time Defendants have rushed to publish clickbait in place of facts, but it should be their last.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MSG also said that while it did keep information on celebrities\u2019 sexual orientations, this was only done to \u201cfurther inclusion\u201d and invite members of the LGBTQIA community to events where they could get involved in sponsorship opportunities and community outreach. It added that the information was held in the same regard as details like birthdays and favourite sports teams, and was never used to discriminate.<\/p>\n<p>In their filing, MSG accused <em>WIRED<\/em> of \u201creport[ing] false and purposely misleading \u2018facts\u2019 to generate a story with complete disregard for the truth and their ethical obligations as journalists\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>They also described the article as showing \u201cshockingly unethical conduct\u201d, and claimed that the \u201cimplication that MSG maintains a database with a sexual orientation field for exclusionary, discriminatory, security, or risk-based purposes is a lie\u201d. The filing added that \u201cDefendants knew there was no nefarious \u2018list\u2019 of gay celebrities\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>MSG has outlined that it has a history of supporting LGBTQIA causes and organisations, has asked for a jury trial, and is seeking money for compensation from <em>WIRED<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A statement from WIRED leadership. pic.twitter.com\/06d9qTD9dy<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 WIRED (@WIRED) July 17, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>WIRED<\/em> have shared a response to the lawsuit on X too, defending the claims laid out in the original article.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe stand by this reporting, and plan to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit,\u201d their statement read.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan\u2019s use of technology across his entertainment empire. It\u2019s one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/madison-square-garden-sues-wired-for-defamation-over-article-on-keeping-records-of-gay-celebrities-3957516&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/msg@2000&#215;1270.jpg&#8221;] NewsMusic News Madison Square Garden sues WIRED for defamation over article on keeping records of gay celebrities WIRED says it \u201cstands by this reporting, and plans to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit\u201d By Liberty Dunworth 17th July 2026 General views around Madison Square Garden on July 2, 2026. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2048640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2048640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048640\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2048640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2048640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2048640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}