An internal Madison Square Garden database of VIPs shows that many of the famous faces who “are courtside fixtures at Knicks games” are among the “roughly 400 celebrities given a risk score” by the venue’s operators, according to Shactman & Silverman of WIRED. The 400-ish entries are “unusual” because the vast majority of the 39,539 entries in the so-called talent database — which “tracks boldfaced names in business, technology, politics, media, and sports, along with their guests — are not marked with a risk score at all.” MSG security “keeps close tabs on what is said online” about owner James Dolan and MSG’s management, and some fans have “been targeted by MSG for criticizing the mogul.” A source mentioned that MSG security has “performed social media sweeps for prominent people looking for complimentary tickets to games.” The source added that if you are a celebrity and you are “marked with a risk score — even as a low risk — it means ‘you’ve done something in the publicity world, the social media world, that has caught the attention of the wrong people.’” The talent database “provides a window into how MSG internally views its famous, rich, and powerful visitors — its well-curated ‘celebrity row’ and its hordes of high-profile fans.”
WHO’S WHO? The source noted that people of concern are “ranked on a scale” — with “Flag” as the lowest, an indication to discuss the VIP with a supervisor. Next is “low risk” — that is the marking for the likes of actress Edie Falco, comedian Tracy Morgan and actor/director Ben Stiller, all of whom would be considered “Knicks ride-or-die” fans. After that is “medium risk,” and then there is a “high risk” designation. Rapper Lil Tjay, who “recently was involved in an altercation at the Garden’s Hulu Theater,” is one of the VIPs listed as “BANNED FROM MSG.” Five of the publicly identified attendees at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding were marked as “low risk:” musicians Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, and Benson Boone; Pro Football HOFer and TV host Michael Strahan; and actress Mariska Hargitay. The talent database also “tracks some celebrities’ race, gender identity, and sexual orientation” — with 93 entries marked as “LGBTQIA.” Why MSG “felt the need to label Ricky Martin or Phoebe Bridgers or Geese’s Emily Green in this way is unclear” (WIRED, 7/9).
CALLS FOR ACTION: An MSG spokesperson said, “Wired’s reporting is inaccurate and false. MSG is pursuing legal remedies.” USA TODAY’s Scooby Axson noted N.Y. LGBTQ+ advocacy organization NEW Pride Agenda responded to the reporting that MSG security officials “maintained a list of LGBTQ+ celebrities, following accusations that the organization also tracked a trans woman over a period of time.” The organization said, “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.” They added, “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” (USA TODAY, 7/9).