Scooter Braun denies ‘malicious intent’ in row with Taylor Swift
Written by News on 29/09/2019
Music manager Scooter Braun has responded to the controversy surrounding his purchase of Taylor Swift’s back catalogue, saying it was not done “with malicious intent”.
Swift alleged Braun had bullied her for years and announced she would be re-recording her old hits when it emerged earlier this year that his company, Ithaca Holdings, had bought the label which released her first six albums.
Braun, a high-profile music industry figure with clients including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, has now spoken out about the row.
Speaking on American football star Tony Gonzalez’s Wide Open podcast, Braun, 38, said: “I don’t do anything with malicious intent. I try to do things above board. I try to do the right thing.
“Not everyone’s going to be happy with everything that you do, and I think in the long-term – I’ve learned this over time – the truth always comes out, and I’m confident in that.”
Ten-time Grammy winner Swift, 29, had been signed with the Big Machine Label Group since starting her career in music as a teenager.
She moved to Universal Music Group in November last year, saying she knew that re-signing with Big Machine would result in her not owning her future work, and released her seventh album, Lover, in August.
When the news of Ithaca Holdings buying Big Machine was announced earlier this year, Swift posted a long statement on social media, saying she was “sad and grossed out”.
She claimed she was the victim of “incessant, manipulative bullying… at his hands for years”.
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Braun did not respond to the allegations at the time. However, his wife, Yael Cohen, responded on social media, defending her husband and saying he was “anything but a bully”.
Bieber also defended his manager, saying in an Instagram post: “Scooter has had your back since the days you graciously let me open up for you!”
(c) Sky News 2019: Scooter Braun denies ‘malicious intent’ in row with Taylor Swift
