Madonna is "profoundly grateful" that a man suspected of leaking her upcoming album has been arrested.
The 56-year-old singer was left infuriated in December when tracks from ‘Rebel Heart’ appeared online but a 39-year-old Israeli has now been arrested in Tel Aviv by the Lahav 433 crime-fighting agency for "breaking into" her computer and the ‘Hung Up’ hitmaker has expressed her relief at the news.
She wrote on Facebook: "I am profoundly grateful to the FBI, the Israeli Police investigators and anyone else who helped lead to the arrest of this hacker. I deeply appreciate my fans who have provided us with pertinent information and continue to do so regarding leaks of my music. Like any citizen, I have the right to privacy.
"This invasion into my life — creatively, professionally, and personally remains a deeply devastating and hurtful experience, as it must be for all artists who are victims of this type of crime."
It seems Madonna wasn’t the only star targetted by the hacker.
A statement from Lahav 433 said: "[The suspect] broke into the personal computers of several international artists over the past few months and stole promotional final-cut singles which have yet to be released and traded them online for a fee…
"In light of the findings of the investigation, the unit collaborated closely with the FBI, with suspicion of even more break-ins to computers owned by unknown international artists, stealing and selling their works."
Soon after the leaked tracks surfaced online, Madonna branded the hacking "artistic rape" and a form of terrorism".
In a controversial Instagram post which was later deleted, she wrote: "This is artistic rape!! These are early leaked demo’s half of which wont even make it on my album the other half have changed and evolved. This is a form of terrorism. Wtf!!!! Why do people want to destroy artistic process??? Why steal? Why not give me the opportunity to finish and give you my very best? (sic)"
Madonna thankful after hacker arrested
