For years, Taylor Swift has been known for her confessional songwriting, with fans poring over every lyric in search of real-life inspiration. When her 2022 album Midnights dropped, one track in particular—“Vigilante S—”—immediately set the internet ablaze. The dark, vengeful anthem seemed to reference a dramatic split, a powerful ex, and a woman reclaiming her life, leading many to speculate that the song was aimed squarely at music executive Scooter Braun and his ex-wife, Yael Cohen.

Now, after years of fan theories, Braun himself has addressed the rumors directly, bringing new perspective to one of pop culture’s most enduring feuds.

The Song That Sparked a Thousand Theories

When Taylor Swift released Midnights in October 2022, “Vigilante S—” quickly became a fan favorite. The song’s lyrics—“She needed cold hard proof, so I gave her some / She had the envelope, where you think she got it from? / Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride / Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife / And she looks so pretty, driving in your Benz / Lately she’s been dressing for revenge”—were dissected line by line across social media and fan forums.

Given the timing of Braun and Cohen’s separation (they split in July 2021 and finalized their divorce in September 2022), and the very public battle between Swift and Braun over the ownership of her master recordings, Swifties were quick to draw connections. The theory gained traction: Swift, known for embedding real-life drama into her music, was taking a not-so-subtle shot at Braun, with Cohen as a central figure in the narrative.

Braun Responds: “It Wasn’t About Us”

On a recent episode of the Question Everything podcast, Braun was asked directly about the rumors. Was “Vigilante S—” really about him and his ex-wife?

“No, because I talk to Yael every day,” Braun replied, his tone calm and even. “My ex-wife is one of my best friends, so me and my ex-wife laugh about that stuff. We don’t even call each other ‘ex.’ That’s, like, my partner. That’s the mother of my children.”

Braun went on to emphasize the strength of his relationship with Cohen, despite their divorce. “I have a tattoo on my finger that says ‘same team’ after my divorce because she and I are on the same team for life. That’s what we say to each other. So no, I never thought that [‘Vigilante S—’] was about us. She never thought it was about us, and everyone else kind of feeding into the fire—great strategy move, but, like, nah.”

A History of Drama: Swift vs. Braun

The speculation didn’t come from nowhere. The feud between Swift and Braun is one of the most notorious in modern music history. In 2019, Braun acquired Big Machine Label Group, and with it, the masters to Swift’s first six albums—a move Swift called her “worst case scenario.” Swift accused Braun of “bullying” and “incessant, manipulative behavior,” while Braun insisted he had reached out to Swift to discuss the purchase.

The battle played out in the public eye, with Swift vowing to re-record her old albums so she could own her music outright. Fans rallied behind her, organizing social media campaigns and boycotts of the original recordings. For years, the question of who controlled Swift’s legacy was a touchstone for larger conversations about artists’ rights and the power dynamics of the music industry.

Swift’s Triumph: Reclaiming Her Music

In May 2025, the saga reached a stunning conclusion. Swift announced that she had bought back her first six albums, posting a triumphant photo surrounded by vinyl editions of the records. “You belong with me,” she captioned the image—a nod to her 2008 hit and a declaration of victory.

On her website, Swift published a lengthy letter: “All the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me.” The statement was met with an outpouring of support from fans, fellow artists, and industry insiders. For Swift, it was the end of a long and painful chapter—and the beginning of a new era.

Braun, for his part, responded graciously. Through a representative, he issued a simple statement to Entertainment Weekly: “I am happy for her.”

Life After the Feud: Braun’s New Chapter

Braun’s own life has changed dramatically since the height of the Swift feud. In June 2024, after 23 years in the music business, he announced his retirement from artist management. The move came after a year in which he had already stepped back from managing top acts like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, both of whom had been instrumental in building Braun’s career.

Now, Braun is focusing on his role as CEO of HYBE America, the US arm of the South Korean entertainment giant behind BTS. He’s also spending more time with his family, including his three children with Cohen. The two remain close, co-parenting and supporting each other through life’s changes.

The Power of Narrative—and the Power of Letting Go

The story of “Vigilante S—” is about more than just a song. It’s a testament to the power of narrative in pop culture, and the way fans and media can shape—and sometimes distort—the meaning of art. For Swift, the song may or may not have been about Braun; she’s never confirmed the inspiration behind it, leaving it open to interpretation.

For Braun, the speculation is just noise. “I never thought that was about us,” he reiterated on the podcast. “Everyone else kind of feeding into the fire—great strategy move, but, like, nah.”

Yet the drama has undeniably helped both figures: Swift’s music is more popular than ever, and Braun has successfully pivoted to a new phase in his career. In the end, both have moved on, forging new paths while remaining inextricably linked by one of the most talked-about battles in music history.

The Legacy of a Feud

As Swift basks in the glow of reclaiming her masters and Braun settles into his executive role, the question of “Vigilante S—” lingers—a reminder of the ways art imitates life, and life inspires art. For fans, the song remains a thrilling mystery. For Braun and Cohen, it’s just another story to laugh about.

And for Taylor Swift, it’s another chapter in a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and the power to write her own story—one lyric at a time.