Scooter Braun Seemingly Addresses Management Drama With Cryptic Instagram Post

Updated on 9/12/2023 at 12:35 PM

Music manager Scooter Braun's career seems to be going through some serious changes. On Aug. 21, Billboard reported that Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande had cut ties with Braun, though sources quickly denied that Grande was leaving, per Variety. The following day, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Idina Menzel was also splitting from Braun. Reps for Braun, Grande, Lovato, and Menzel did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR's request for comment.

Braun shot to fame when he discovered Justin Bieber on YouTube in 2007 and helped kick-start his career. He has since managed Carly Rae Jepsen, Kanye West, the Black Eyed Peas, and David Guetta at different times, and he is the founder of the American record label Schoolboy Records and the holding company Ithaca Ventures, among other ventures. He is also currently the CEO of the Hybe Corporation's United States leg, Hybe America.

In 2018, Braun found himself at the center of a scandal when news broke that Ithaca Ventures had purchased Big Machine Record Group, which included the masters of Taylor Swift's first six albums. Amid heavy criticism from Swift, Braun in turn sold the catalog for $300 million, leading Swift to rerecord all six projects.

Managers and their celebrity clients do often split for a variety of reasons, and there's no concrete evidence that indicates Braun's clients are leaving because of any particular issue. However, the rapid departures, one after the other, have made fans speculate that there are issues behind the scenes. Braun's cryptic Sept. 12 Instagram post seemingly addressing the situation may also allude to issues.

Ahead, here's what we know about what's happening with Braun's empire.

May 2023: J Balvin Splits From Scooter Braun

The reggaeton star signed with SB Projects in 2019 but split from Braun in May, according to The Guardian. He has not commented on the split and did not respond to POPSUGAR's request for comment.

Aug. 17, 2023: Justin Bieber's Relationship With Scooter Braun Is Called Into Question

On Aug. 17, multiple sources told Puck News that Bieber had split from Braun. However, reps for Bieber and Braun denied the rumors in statements to Billboard. Reps for Bieber did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR's request for comment.

Aug. 21, 2023: Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande Reportedly Split From Scooter Braun

On Aug. 21, sources told Billboard that Lovato had parted ways with Braun, and a source told Variety that the split was amicable the same day the news broke. Billboard also reported that Grande had cut ties with Braun on Aug. 21.

On the same day, a source told Variety that Braun was leaving the management business entirely. "He's getting out of management — he has been for years. That's the real story," the source claimed.

Another source told Variety that the departures are due to changes in Braun's career. "All of Scooter Braun's clients are under contract and negotiations have been going on for several months as Scooter steps into his larger role as HYBE America CEO," the source said. "People are spreading rumors based on what they know, but they are off. Scooter's team at SB Projects are still handling both Justin and Ariana as they work through what this new structure looks like."

Yet another source told the outlet that the changes might be due to issues with Braun's behavior. "He's imploding . . . It's a different world since the pandemic," the source said. "You just can't be an asshole like that anymore."

Aug. 22, 2023: Idina Menzel Reportedly Splits From Scooter Braun

On Aug. 22, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Menzel had also separated from Braun.

On the same day, Braun appeared to comment on all of the recent news on Twitter. "Breaking news . . . I'm no longer managing myself," he wrote.

Sept. 12, 2023: Scooter Braun Seemingly Addresses Artists Parting Ways With Him on Instagram

Weeks later, Braun seemingly addressed his artists parting ways with his management company by posting a quote by author Brianna Wiest on Instagram. "Your new life is going to cost you your old one," the quote reads. "It's going to cost you your comfort zone and your sense of direction. It's going to cost you relationships and friends. It's going to cost you being liked and understood. It doesn't matter. The people who are meant for you are going to meet you on the other side. You're going to build a new comfort zone around the things that actually move you forward. Instead of being liked, you're going to be loved. Instead of being understood, you're going to be seen. All you're going to lose is what was built for a person you no longer are."

Braun appeared to think the quote captured his feelings, having captioned the post, "Thank you for your perfect words, @BriannaWiest."