Scooter Braun is putting an end to speculation that Taylor Swift’s 2022 track Vigilante S–t was inspired by his divorce from Yael Cohen and their well-publicized feud. The song, which centers around themes of revenge and solidarity between women, fueled rumors among fans that it referenced Swift’s long-standing dispute with Braunparticularly after he acquired her master recordings in 2019 and his separation from Cohen. But Braun, 44, says the theory simply doesn’t add up.
Appearing on the Question Everything podcast on July 17, Braun directly addressed the speculation. “’Cause me and Yael talk every day,” he said. “My ex-wife is one of my best friends. So, me and my ex-wife laugh at that stuff.” Braun and Cohen, who separated in 2021 after seven years of marriage, share three children — Jagger, 9, Levi, 7, and Hart, 5. Despite their split, the former couple remains deeply connected as co-parents and friends.
He also rejected the notion of viewing Yael as an “ex,” emphasizing their continued partnership. “That’s the mother of my children,” Braun said. “That is my family for life. I have a tattoo on my finger that says ‘same team’ after my divorce, because she and I are the same team for life. It’s what we say to each other.”
Released in 2022, Vigilante S–t came out shortly after Braun’s divorce was finalized and reignited conversation around his contentious history with Swift. In 2019, Braun’s company, Ithaca Holdings, purchased Big Machine Records, giving him control over the master recordings of Swift’s first six albums.
The move was met with fierce backlash from Swift, who publicly accused Braun of stripping her of her life’s work. Although Swift never confirmed the target of Vigilante S–t, fans drew connections to her ongoing battle over ownership and Braun’s personal life, citing the song’s cryptic lyrics and release timing. However, Braun waved off any suggestion that he saw himself in the song.
“Great strategy move,” he said. “But no.” While Vigilante S–t continues to spark analysis among Swift’s fan base, Braun insists that neither he nor Cohen is the subject of the lyrics. Instead, he emphasized that his relationship with Cohen remains grounded in mutual respect and friendship, far from the betrayal and vengeance portrayed in the track.
As for Swift, she has since taken control of her music, re-recording her earlier albums and releasing them as “Taylor’s Versions” to reclaim her artistic legacy.