Yesterday, music manager Scooter Braun addressed his increasingly fraught professional relationship with Taylor Swift publicly for the first time ever. During a Q&A at the 2019 Entertainment Industry Conference, Braun spoke to Variety’s Shirley Halperin about “toxic division” on social media, and how he didn’t want to participate in that kind of communication. Now, Braun has written a lengthy Instagram post that directly addresses Swift for the first time. In it, he claims that his family has received “numerous death threats” since Swift accused Braun and ex-label boss Scott Borchetta of preventing her from performing any of her early material during the upcoming American Music Awards.
“Since your public statement last week there have been numerous death threats directed at my family,” Braun wrote in his post. “This morning I spoke out publicly for the first time saying I wouldn’t participate in a social media war. However I came home tonight to find my wife had received a phone call threatening the safety of our children as well as other threats seen above.” Braun shared an image that appears to be a text message at the end of his post. It reads: “Hi, why dont you just die withyour children??? I will buy a gun tmr and them shoot you allin the head.”
Braun’s statement, which can be read in full below, goes on to address previous issues mentioned by Swift, such as the statement she posted to social media back in June when Braun’s media holding company Ithaca Holdings LLC. announced its acquisition of Taylor Swift’s former label Big Machine Label Group, thereby acquiring her pre-Lover catalog. At that time, Swift accused Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying.”
“To be frank I was shocked and disheartened to hear that my presence in the Big Machine deal caused you so much pain as the handful of times we have actually met I have always remembered them to be pleasant and respectful,” Braun wrote in his post. “Knowing what I know now all I have wanted to do is rectify the situation. I’m open to ALL possibilities. My attempts and calls to have an open discussion with you over the last 6 months have all been rejected.” He later added, “no artist should ever feel cornered or bullied. I have spent my entire career in service of creatives and artists, never the other way around.”
Find Braun’s full statement below. Pitchfork has reached out to Taylor Swift’s representatives for further comment.
@taylorswift
Since your public statement last week there have been numerous death threats directed at my family. This morning I spoke out publicly for the first time saying I wouldn’t participate in a social media war. However I came home tonight to find my wife had received a phone call threatening the safety of our children as well as other threats seen above. I won’t go in to the details of this past week. I have been at a loss. Thinking of my wife and children, my team and their families, I have gone through a range of emotions on how to deal with this. I write this now only after a deep breathe [sic] and much reflection. I am certain there is no situation ever worth jeopardizing anyone’s safety.
I assume this was not your intention but it is important that you understand that your words carry a tremendous amount of weight and that your message can be interpreted by some in different ways. While disappointed that you have remained silent after being notified by your attorney 4 days ago of these ongoing threats, I’m still hopeful we can fix this.
We are living in a time of pointless violence and as a husband and father I am concerned.
This is a world filled with toxic division where people express their opinions over social media instead of having conversations in person. I want no part in that. To be frank I was shocked and disheartened to hear that my presence in the Big Machine deal caused you so much pain as the handful of times we have actually met I have always remembered them to be pleasant and respectful. Knowing what I know now all I have wanted to do is rectify the situation. I’m open to ALL possibilities. My attempts and calls to have an open discussion with you over the last 6 months have all been rejected. While some on your team and many of our mutual friends have tried to get you to the table, all have had no luck. It almost feels as if you have no interest in ever resolving the conflict. At this point with safety becoming a concern I have no choice other than to publicly ask for us to come together and try to find a resolution. I have tried repeatedly through your representatives to achieve a solution but unfortunately here we are. This game of telephone isn’t working.
While I am frustrated with your accusations and respectfully disagree with many of your statements, it is important that I am clear—no artist should ever feel cornered or bullied. I have spent my entire career in service of creatives and artists, never the other way around.
As the world now knows you can and should perform any song you would like at the AMAs. I have never and would never say otherwise. You do not need anyone’s permission to do so legally but I am stating it here clearly and publicly so there is no more debate or confusion.
Moving forward I would like to find a resolution. I will make myself available whenever works for you. Many have told me that a meeting will never happen as this is not about truth or resolution but instead a narrative for you. I am hopeful that is not the case. I’m right here, ready to speak directly and respectfully. But if you would prefer to make large public statements while refusing to work towards resolving things amicably then I just pray that nobody gets seriously hurt in the process. I continue to wish you the best and hope we can resolve this.