- Scooter Braun says he never really knew Taylor Swift.
- Their conflict began after he purchased her master recordings in 2019.
- Taylor Swift had strongly denounced the situation publicly.
- Braun now claims he holds no grudge.
Even though their names are closely linked in the music industry and a major media feud has pitted them against each other over the years, Scooter Braun stated in a recent interview with The Free Press that he had never actually known Taylor Swift on a personal level. The producer insists that he never had a real relationship with the singer, which, according to him, puts into perspective the public perception of a rivalry that was much more personal than it actually was.
As a reminder, in June 2019, Scooter Braun acquired the Big Machine Label Group for approximately $300 million, a transaction that gave him control of the original recordings of Taylor Swift’s early albums. Following this sale, the singer reportedly attempted to buy back her own master recordings, but her request was reportedly denied, which quickly led to a major public controversy.
Taylor Swift then spoke out about the situation on social media, expressing her deep frustration at this loss of control over her music catalog. In a 2019 Tumblr post, she notably claimed that Scooter Braun had “stripped her of her life’s work,” adding that her music was now “in the hands of someone who tried to destroy it”—remarks that fueled widespread controversy at the time.
For his part, Scooter Braun explains in the interview that at the time, it was difficult to go from being a respected figure in the industry—notably known for discovering Justin Bieber and building a solid reputation in the music world—to becoming the target of massive criticism from Taylor Swift’s fans, an experience that deeply marked that period of his career.
Almost Strangers
During the podcast, Scooter Braun addressed the public perception of his relationship with Taylor Swift, which he considers largely inaccurate. According to him, several misconceptions are circulating about their connection and their shared history in the music industry.
“But I think there’s a very widespread misconception, like that we knew each other, that we were on bad terms, and that I was her manager for years,” he explained. He added: “People are generally surprised to learn that I don’t know her at all, that we’ve had very few interactions, and that I’ve never really known her.”
In the same vein, he reiterated his comments in interviews and on podcasts, stating: “I don’t know her at all, I haven’t had much interaction with her, and I’ve never really known her,” in response to reports that he had maintained a direct relationship with the singer prior to the dispute over the masters. He also clarified: “I think I’ve met her three times in my life,” emphasizing the rarity of their interactions.
Finally, Scooter Braun said he holds no grudge against the singer:
“I’ll never truly understand this situation. I wish her all the best (…) I’ve chosen to learn from it and grow from it. I’m grateful for that at this stage of my life.”
A New High-Profile Couple
Recently, talent agent and producer Scooter Braun reportedly made his relationship with actress Sydney Sweeney official; she is best known for her standout role in the popular series Euphoria. The actress further fueled speculation by sharing a series of photos in which she appears alongside her alleged new boyfriend, quickly drawing the attention of social media users.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift continues her highly publicized relationship with football player Travis Kelce. The couple remains the subject of much media attention, with rumors of a potential wedding regularly making headlines in the entertainment news.
After several years marked by significant public controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s music masters, it now appears that the tensions between the singer and Scooter Braun are largely a thing of the past. Now that this long-running controversy seems behind them, many simply hope to see them move toward a more peaceful period, both personally and professionally.
