Scooter Braun may have announced his retirement, but he didn’t forget his final criticism of Taylor Swift.
Or so many people think!
On Monday, June 17, the longtime manager, who became known for working with big-name artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, confirmed he was retiring from music management after 23 years.
“I’ve been blessed to live a Forrest Gump-like life, witnessing and participating in the journeys of some of the most extraordinary and talented people the world has ever seen.
“I’m always pinching myself and asking, ‘how did I get to this point?’ and after 23 years, this chapter as a music manager has come to an end,” Brown said in a lengthy and self-centered Instagram statement.
In short, the statement was long, but many took the time to carefully read it, and those who did were rewarded with the Easter egg everyone was hoping for: a subtle dig at rival Taylor Swift.
Scooter Braun criticizes Taylor Swift over retirement announcement
“It’s a strange feeling. I guess I’ve wanted this for a long time but was really scared to answer the question, ‘Who would I be without them?’ I was only 19 when I started this job, so for my entire adult life I’ve been in the role of artist manager, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
“And for 20 years, I loved it. That was all I knew.”
Scooter then begins talking about all the celebrities he’s managed, from Justin Bieber and Usher to Tori Kelly and Carly Rae Jepson, and the other villain in Taylor’s story, Kanye West.
And that was exactly the problem: Taylor’s name wasn’t on the list thanking artists who’d worked with him – at least not directly!
Here’s where it gets interesting: Scooter makes a point of talking about his career successes as well as failures.
“Much has been said about what’s been going on at our company and in my career. We’ve smiled when we’ve been successful and always tried to take the high road when we’ve been attacked. But over the last three years, I’ve begun to feel that taking the high road has created confusion and ambiguity about who we are.”
Ah, was he “attacked”? By whom exactly? By Taylor and her team, who want to protect their legacy? Or by some of his other female clients?
Remember, Brown was fired by Grande and Demi Lovato Last year, there was a lot of reporting that he was basically a huge asshole.
Revisiting the Scooter/Taylor War
In 2018, Braun’s company acquired the rights to Swift’s first six albums… which resulted in Taylor Swift Brown’s attempts to control the game are absolutely reprehensible. Her career.
Braun ultimately sold Swift’s catalog for hundreds of millions of dollars, while Swift continued to record her own record-breaking versions of these same albums and songs.
While we’re still waiting for Reputation and Taylor Swift to make an appearance, the superstar has enough career longevity and star power to back up her claim.
For Scooter, the next move is to spend more time with his family.
Scooter is thankful for his biological son and the “baby” that started it all
“I’m so grateful for all of you,” Brown continued in his social media message, referring to his children with ex-wife Yael Cohen.
“As my kids grew up and my personal life took hits, I realized they were three superstars I didn’t want to lose.
“Sacrifices that I was once willing to make can no longer be justified. The time has come to step into a new role… [I must now become] First he was a father, then a CEO, and now he’s no longer a manager.
Brown explained that he had been thinking about stepping back from management for “the past two years,” but the idea started to become more realistic in the summer of 2023, when “one of my biggest clients and friends told me he wanted to spread his wings and go in a new direction.”
We’re guessing this is a reference to Bieber.
In his retirement announcement, Brown continued:
“Life doesn’t give you your plan, it gives you God’s plan, and God has been leading me in this direction for a long time.
“I have nothing but love for the people I’ve worked with over the years, and as we forge new working relationships, whether in person or from afar, I will always be there for them, counseling and supporting them.”
“Every client I’ve had the privilege of working with has changed my life, and I know many of them are just beginning to achieve the success they deserve. I root for every one of them.”
The arrogant manager concluded:
I never imagined how this chapter would end. Heck, I never thought it would happen. But it did. And I am cherishing every moment of it. I made my plans…but in the end, I preferred God’s plan. Cheers!
