Taylor Swift sings two diss tracks on nemesis Scooter Braun’s birthday… one day after he announced his retirement from music management
Taylor Swift fans are convinced she shaded her longtime nemesis, Scooter Braun, during her latest surprise acoustic song set on The Eras Tour on Tuesday night.
While performing at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, the singer, 34, performed a mashup of her two diss tracks I Forgot That You Existed and This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.
The choices immediately sent Swifties into a frenzy as they rushed to social media to point out the performance came on Braun’s 43rd birthday, and just one day after he announced his retirement from music management.
At one point as she sang This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, she let out a prolonged laugh as the crowd cheered, which was notably longer than her short cackle in the original recording.
The 14-time Grammy winner never explicitly mentioned the entrepreneur by name, but has been vocal about their yearslong dispute over his acquisition of her first six albums in 2019.
Taylor Swift fans are convinced she shaded her longtime nemesis, Scooter Braun, during her latest surprise acoustic song set on The Eras Tour on Tuesday night (seen last month)
‘Y’all… I Forgot That You Existed x This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is ICONIC on the heels of the Scooter retirement announcement omg,’ one X user wrote.
‘ON SCOOTERS BIRTHDAY?!?!’ another tweeted.
A third mused that the song selection was ‘hysterical’ since it was her first show since Braun’s retirement announcement, and, it fell on his birthday.
Others joked Swift, who also performed a mashup of I Hate It Here and The Lakes, was a ‘comedian.’
Braun infamously was embroiled in controversy with Swift after the music mogul purchased her master recordings from Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta back in 2019.
In a June 2019 Tumblr post, Swift expressed her disappointment over the high-profile transaction.
‘Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it,’ Swift said. ‘For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work. Instead, I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and “earn” one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in.’
She explained she always wanted to own her own music, but entered the music world at the age of 15 and couldn’t fight for herself.
While performing at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, the singer, 34, performed a mashup of her two diss tracks I Forgot That You Existed and This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
The choices immediately sent Swifties into a frenzy as they rushed to social media to point out the performance came on Braun’s 43rd birthday, and just one day after he announced his retirement from the music industry
At the time, Swift said the purchase was a betrayal from her old label and never in her ‘worst nightmares’ did she ‘imagine the buyer would be Scooter.’
‘Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever,’ she wrote.
The performer who ended her post saying ‘sad and grossed out.’
Nearly a year and a half later, Braun went on to sell the master recordings for more than $300 million to private equity company Shamrock Holdings.
At the time, Swift wrote in a social media post: ‘My team attempted to enter into negotiations with Scooter Braun. Scooter’s team wanted me to sign an ironclad NDA stating I would never say another word about Scooter Braun unless it was positive, before we could even look at the financial records of BMLG (which is always the first step in a purchase of this nature).’
‘So, I would have to sign a document that would silence me forever before I could even have a chance to bid on my own work,’ she explained. ‘He would never even quote my team a price. These master recordings were not for sale to me.’
‘I forgot that you existed x this is why we can’t have nice things on scooter’s birthday and first show post his “retirement” is HYSTERICAL,’ one X user wrote
‘ON SCOOTERS BIRTHDAY?!?!’ another tweeted
A third wrote: ‘Y’all… I Forgot That You Existed x This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is ICONIC on the heels of the Scooter retirement announcement omg’
Others joked Swift, who also performed a mashup of I Hate It Here and The Lakes, was a ‘comedian’
Swift then announced she would re-record the songs on the six albums she made for Big Machine, calling them ‘Taylor’s Versions,’ which she has already begun with both Fearless and Red.
Braun released a statement announcing the end of his ‘chapter’ as music manager – as he sets forth on his new role as a board member of Hybe and CEO of Hybe America.
His statement began: ’23 years ago a 19 year old kid started managing an artist named Cato in Atlanta, GA and my journey began. Along the way I have had so many experiences I could never have dreamt of.
‘I have been blessed to have had a “Forrest Gump”-like life while witnessing and taking part in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen. I’m constantly pinching myself and asking “how did I get here?” And after 23 years this chapter as a music manager has come to an end.’
Braun infamously was embroiled in controversy with Swift after the music mogul purchased her master recordings from Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta back in 2019 (pictured in 2024)
News of Scooter’s retirement comes after he lost clients such as Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Demi Lovato.
Scooter, who shares three children with his ex-wife Yael Cohen, cited his kids as the primary reason he decided to leave the business.
‘My entire adult life I played the role of an artist manager on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And for 20 years I loved it. It’s all I had known. But as my children got older, and my personal life took some hits, I came to the realization that my kids were 3 superstars I wasn’t willing to lose. The sacrifices I was once willing to make I could no longer justify. It was time to step into a new role.’
Braun then addressed his next career move – as the CEO of Hybe America last year. Variety reported last year that Braun became sole CEO of the company.
‘In this next chapter, I have been honored to join as a board member of Hybe and serve as the CEO of Hybe America. My brilliant partner these past 3 years, Chairman Bang, has a vision I truly believe in. But even beyond that he has become a true friend who understands where I must be in my life these days. And that is a father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more.’
Earlier this week, Braun, who has had a prolific two-decade career overseeing the likes of Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, announced his retirement from music management (seen in 2018)
He reflected on his incredible career working alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
‘Justin and Ariana were both young teenagers when I began with them,’ he wrote. ‘To see them both come up to be the legends they are today will forever be one of my greatest honors. As we change our working relationships now, I will continue to root for them with the same passion that I did at each of their humble beginnings.
‘I remember the pranks and the water park shows with Justin, and the first time Ari opened an arena tour and her excitement side stage. I remember as they both stepped up for others and I got to witness them each change the world and make history. There will never be a day where I don’t take great pride and honor in what we accomplished together. The same can be said for so many I have had the pleasure of once being called “manager.”‘
Braun’s statement also alluded to controversies he faced during his time as music manager, however he did not specifically name them.
‘There has been a lot said about what is happening in our company… and in my career. When we had success I smiled, and when we were attacked I tried to always take the high road.
In a June 2019 Tumblr post, Swift expressed her disappointment over the high-profile transaction (her full Tumblr post pictured here)
‘But for the last 3 years I have begun to feel that taking the high road has created confusion and ambiguity as to who we are. I may have left my role in management, and my business relationship with many clients will alter and change, but this does not mean we as a company are leaving.
‘Both Allison Kaye and Jennifer McDaniels are more than capable to lead and as we combine new resources the opportunities with their leadership are endless. These two incredibly powerful women will now step into a role that I know will grow into the most impressive women-led management business our industry has even seen. While my name may have been on the door all these years, the truth is there is no one as brilliant as Allison Kaye, and few who can manage with the grace and poise of Jen McDaniels.’
He continued: ‘We at Hybe will continue to grow. With the addition of QC to Hybe America and our existing business at Big Machine, we will continue to add amazing execs and artists to the roster. Our WeVerse platform and growing gaming unit is something the whole industry can celebrate and join. Getting the opportunity to A&R and Executive Produce the solo career of Jung Kook last summer, and work with the other members of BTS as we break worldwide records, has been an absolute honor.
‘With new acts like NewJeans, TXT, LE SSERAFIM, Seventeen, ILLIT, The Scarlet Opera, Ava Max, and many other new artists and ventures, the future is bright. I’m honored to join Chairman Bang and Jiwon Park as we grow HYBE from the multi-billion dollar publicly traded company it is today to the worldwide multifaceted entertainment platform it is destined to be. With Hybe going strong I am also looking forward to continuing to invest in a new generation of entrepreneurs and serve as a national board member of Make A Wish and help individuals and communities through our family’s Braun Foundation. Between all of this and coaching my kids I’m not worried about being busy :).’
‘So yes, it’s been 23 years. And yes, this chapter has come to an end. But the great Berry Gordy once told me “young man, it never ends the way you wanted, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” That wisdom has proven to be correct. I never saw how this chapter would end, hell, I never even saw it happening. But it did. And I will cherish every moment of it. I made my plan… but it turns out I like God’s plan better. Cheers!’
