Celebrities' Private Contact Information Leaked at Tribeca Fest
WHO:
The Independent - Jeremiah Fowler described himself as “an ethical security researcher” and stated he did not download the data but reviewed a limited number of records to verify the exposure.
Variety - Celebrities involved in the data leak include Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Jennifer Lawrence, Angelina Jolie, and Robert De Niro.
The Independent - Additional celebrities mentioned include Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, Rami Malek, Sharon Stone, George Lucas, and Danny Boyle.
The Independent - Jeremiah Fowler is a cybersecurity researcher who discovered the leak.
WHAT:
The Independent - Fowler claimed the leak included a folder that captured device information based on the email, detailing the version of iPhone and web browser used by the celebrities.
Variety - A data leak at the Tribeca Festival exposed hundreds of thousands of records and contact information for thousands of celebrities.
The Independent - The leak reportedly revealed phone numbers and email addresses of the celebrities.
The Independent - Fowler described the leak as “by far the biggest collection of celebrity data I’ve ever seen.”
The Independent - The festival's database, named “contacts,” was accidentally made public online.
WHERE:
The Independent - The data leak occurred in connection with the Tribeca Film Festival, which is based in New York.
WHEN:
The Independent - The database was discovered days before the festival started on 3 June.
WHY:
The Independent - Fowler's goal was to “responsibly notify relevant parties and raise awareness about the importance of protecting potentially sensitive data.”
The Independent - Fowler contacted the festival organizers to notify them about the data exposure, emphasizing the potential risk of malware targeting the celebrities.
HOW:
The Independent - The Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 to help spur the cultural revival of Lower Manhattan after 9/11.
The Independent - Fowler stated that the exposed records included device information, such as the version of iPhone and web browser used by the celebrities.
The Independent - The festival removed the databases swiftly and stated it “takes matters of data security very seriously and is actively investigating this issue.”
(UPDATED July 27, 2026 21:22 UTC)
An ethical security researcher named Jeremiah Fowler has reported a significant data leak involving sensitive information about celebrities, including details about their devices and web browsers. Fowler, who did not download the data but reviewed a limited number of records, aims to responsibly notify relevant parties and raise awareness about the importance of protecting such potentially sensitive data. This comes as the Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2002, continues to play a vital role in the cultural revival of Lower Manhattan following the events of 9/11.
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(UPDATED July 27, 2026 20:24 UTC)
A significant data leak at the Tribeca Film Festival has exposed hundreds of thousands of records, including contact information for numerous celebrities such as Martin Scorsese, Jennifer Lawrence, and Morgan Freeman. Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who discovered the leak, described it as the largest collection of celebrity data he has ever seen, revealing sensitive information like phone numbers and email addresses. The festival has since removed the exposed databases and is actively investigating the issue, emphasizing its commitment to data security.