Scooter Braun Recounts 2019 Taylor Swift Backlash, Says Bieber Crisis Nearly Turned Fatal
Updated
Updated · Evie Magazine · May 29
Scooter Braun Recounts 2019 Taylor Swift Backlash, Says Bieber Crisis Nearly Turned Fatal
5 articles · Updated · Evie Magazine · May 29
Braun used a rare interview to revisit the 2019 fallout over Taylor Swift’s first six albums, saying the dispute turned him from a top manager into an online “villain.”
He said the backlash became fandom warfare rather than a contract fight, adding that he barely knew Swift even as old conflicts involving Kanye West and Justin Bieber were pulled back into the feud.
Bieber remained central to Braun’s account: he said he discovered the singer at 13 on YouTube and feared Bieber “could’ve died” during the turmoil around the Purpose era.
That relationship later frayed over claims Braun took excessive commissions; Braun and HYBE disputed that, and the sides reportedly reached a multimillion-dollar settlement in 2025.
Braun also described a 20-minute suicidal episode in 2021, his 2022 divorce and 2024 exit from artist management, framing the interview as a reflection on burnout, fame and his changed public image.
With Taylor Swift now owning her masters again, what is the true legacy of Braun's infamous $360 million deal?
How is the music industry's power structure changing as more artists fight for ownership of their work?
Why is the retired manager who preaches 'grace' now linked to a secret online smear campaign against his enemies?