Scooter Braun begins his retirement with a dig at Taylor Swift

Scooter Braun has ended his career – but not without one final dig at Taylor Swift.

At least that’s what many people think!

On Monday, June 17, the longtime manager, known for his work with the likes of Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, confirmed his retirement from music management after 23 years.

“I have been fortunate enough to live a Forrest Gump-like life while witnessing and participating in the journeys of some of the most talented people the world has ever seen.

“I constantly pinch myself and ask myself, ‘How did I get here?’ And after 23 years, this chapter as a music manager is over,” Braun said in a long and self-serving Instagram statement.

Although the statement was, in a word, LONG, many took the time to read it carefully. Those who did were rewarded with the Easter egg everyone was expecting: a subtle dig at her nemesis Taylor Swift.

Scooter Braun’s dig at Taylor Swift in announcing his retirement

“It’s a weird feeling because I think I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but I was really scared to answer the question, ‘Who would I be without her?’ I was literally only 19 when I started. So my whole adult life I played the role of an artist manager who was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“And for 20 years I loved it. It was all I knew.”

At this point, Scooter starts talking about all the celebrities he has managed over the years, from Justin Bieber and Usher to Tori Kelly, Carly Rae Jepson, and the other villain in Taylor’s story, Kanye West.

And that’s exactly the problem: Taylor’s name did not appear in his list of artists he would like to thank for their collaboration. At least not directly!

And now things got interesting. Scooter made it a point to talk not only about the highs but also the lows of his career:

“A lot has been said about what’s happening in our company… and in my career. When we were successful, I smiled, and when we were attacked, I always tried to take the moral high road. But over the last three years, I feel like that moral commitment has created confusion and ambiguity about who we are.”

Oh, he was “attacked”? By who, exactly? By Taylor and her team, who wanted to protect their legacy? Or perhaps by some of his other female clients.

Remember, Braun was fired by Grande and Demi Lovato last year after reports emerged that he was basically a huge asshole.

The Scooter/Taylor war again

In 2018, Braun’s company acquired the rights to Swift’s first six albums… which prompted Taylor to slam Braun for trying to control her career.

Braun eventually sold Swift’s catalog for hundreds of millions of dollars, while Swift subsequently recorded her own record-breaking versions of those albums and songs.

While we are still waiting for “Reputation” and “Taylor Swift,” the superstar has more than proven her worth with the longevity of her career and star status.

Scooter’s next step is to spend more time with his family.

Scooter thanks his children: both the biological ones and the “baby” with which it all began

Braun continued in his social media message, mentioning the children he has with ex-wife Yael Cohen:

“As my children grew older and my personal life suffered some setbacks, I realized that my children were three superstars that I did not want to lose.

“I could no longer justify the sacrifices I was once willing to make. It was time to take on a new role… (I now have to) become a father first, then a CEO, and no longer a manager.

Braun said he had been thinking about stepping down from management “for two years,” although the idea felt more real in the summer of 2023 – when “one of my biggest customers and friends told me he wanted to spread his wings and move in a new direction.”

We assume this is a reference to Bieber.

In his resignation announcement, Braun continued:

“You see, life doesn’t give you YOUR plan, it gives you GOD’S plan. And God has been pushing me in this direction for some time.

“I have nothing but love for the people I have worked with over the years and as our working relationships evolve, I will always be there to offer advice and support, whether directly or remotely.

“Every client I’ve had the privilege of working with has changed my life, and I know many of them are just beginning to see the success they deserve. I will be cheering each and every one of them on.”

The bloated board concluded:

I never knew how this chapter would end, hell, I never even knew it would happen. But it did happen. And I will cherish every moment of it. I made my plan… but it turns out I like God’s plan better. Cheers!”