Scooter Braun, the former manager of Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Kanye West, gave a rare long interview on Suzy Weiss’s “Second Thought” podcast after stepping back from management and resigning as CEO of Hybe America last year. In the conversation, Braun reflected on his career, his personal life, and some of the most controversial moments of his public profile, including his role in the dispute over Taylor Swift’s master recordings.
Braun said his focus today is largely on his children, his family office, investments, and building a life that feels more balanced after years at the center of the music business. He described himself as “restless,” but said he wants to be patient about whatever he builds next and spend more time appreciating the people already in his life. He also spoke warmly about his current relationship and the joy he gets from family, friends and his children.
He discussed his admiration for Spencer Pratt, who is running for Los Angeles mayor, saying Pratt is bringing attention to issues many people are frustrated about and speaking plainly in a way that resonates with some voters. Braun declined to say who he will vote for, but called himself a moderate.
A major part of the interview focused on his time managing Bieber, whom Braun credited with extraordinary talent and charisma. He said he recognized Bieber’s potential immediately and felt lucky to help launch and guide his career during its early years. Braun also described managing Kanye West as creatively transformative, saying West changed the way he thought about design and live performance. He recalled the 2016 “Pablo” tour as a groundbreaking moment and credited West’s vision for innovations that anticipated how audiences would watch and share concerts online.
Braun also addressed the fallout from West’s antisemitic remarks, saying they were deeply upsetting to him, especially given his own family’s Holocaust history. At the same time, he said he believes in the possibility of growth, accountability and forgiveness, and noted that mental health struggles can complicate public judgments of people’s behavior.
He then turned to the Taylor Swift controversy, saying the public reaction to his acquisition of Big Machine and Swift’s master recordings turned him from a widely liked industry figure into a villain overnight. Braun said he barely knew Swift, had only a handful of brief interactions with her, and never had a meaningful relationship with her before or after the deal. He said he still wishes her well and believes the dispute helped push the music industry toward greater awareness of artists owning their masters.
Braun also briefly referred to Sydney Sweeney without naming her directly, describing her as an extraordinary woman who is kind, smart, real and down to earth.
