Scooter Braun Says Taylor Swift Backlash Turned Him Into a “Villain”

Scooter Braun has spoken about his public dispute with Taylor Swift, saying he still does not fully understand why it happened.

On the Second Thought With Suzy Weiss podcast, Braun said he had only met Swift about three times and never had a meaningful relationship with her. He said he bought Big Machine Label Group in 2019, including Swift’s first six albums, because he was excited about the possibility of working with her.

The deal sparked controversy after Swift said the sale took away control of her life’s work. Braun said the backlash quickly turned him into a “villain” in the public eye, despite never having had a substantial conversation with the singer.

He added that the experience taught him important lessons and helped him grow. Braun said he wishes Swift well and holds no ill feelings toward her.

Following the dispute, Swift re-recorded four of her early albums as “Taylor’s Version” releases. In May 2025, she announced that she had bought back the masters of her first six albums from Shamrock Capital, which had purchased them from Braun in 2020.