Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber’s Former Manager, Contemplates Suicide Following Marital Split and Taylor Swift Feud

Scooter Braun Opens Up About 2020 Suicide Struggles Amid Divorce and Taylor Swift Feud

Scooter Braun, the 43-year-old music mogul behind stars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, revealed he battled suicidal thoughts in 2020 during a candid interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast. The turmoil stemmed from his crumbling marriage to Yael Cohen and the fallout from his highly publicized feud with Taylor Swift over her music catalog.

[Image: Braun on the Diary of a CEO podcast, looking reflective]
Caption: Braun discussing his mental health struggles on the podcast.

The Breaking Point
Braun’s life unraveled after his $300 million purchase of Swift’s early master recordings in 2019, which sparked a bitter dispute. By 2020, his seven-year marriage to Cohen—with whom he shares three children—was collapsing. “If my marriage falls apart, I’m not gonna be with my kids all the time,” he recalled thinking. “I can’t control this… I don’t want to be here.” He described a 20-minute spiral into suicidal ideation, fueled by fears of losing his family and public image.

[Image: Braun with Justin Bieber in 2020]
Caption: Braun with longtime client Justin Bieber during a turbulent period.

Seeking Help
Amid the crisis, Braun entered The Hoffman Process, a week-long California retreat focused on self-reflection. “It was intense work on your childhood to understand why you are the way you are,” he said. The program helped him confront his struggles, though the “hard stuff” came afterward. Despite enduring a divorce and career challenges, Braun emphasized, “I never was depressed again.”

[Image: Taylor Swift at the 2023 Grammys]
Caption: Swift’s feud with Braun began after he acquired her masters in 2019.

The Swift Feud Fallout
Braun admitted arrogance clouded his handling of the Swift conflict. He’d assumed she’d collaborate after he bought her catalog, unaware of her resentment fueled by his ties to Kanye West and Bieber. Her 2019 Tumblr post condemning the deal blindsided him. “I thought we’d work together,” he said. The backlash taught him empathy: “I never knew what global criticism felt like… Both praise and hate were undeserved.”

[Image: Braun and Scott Borchetta in 2019]
Caption: Braun with Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta after the controversial deal.

Lessons and Moving Forward
Braun acknowledged prioritizing career over personal life led to his breakdown. “I’m the top of my game, yet I wanted to kill myself,” he reflected. The experience reshaped his perspective: “Everything in life is a gift.” Now focused on balance, he maintains respect for Cohen, calling their family bond “forever.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

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