Scooter Braun Was a Key Strain in Swift and Kloss’ Friendship

The acquisition, for $300 million, gave Braun control of the masters to Swift’s first six albums. Kloss had been managed by him for years, leaving her caught between two significant relationships, according to sources who spoke to the Daily Mail. “Taylor was understandably hurt with Karlie’s association with Scooter,” one insider said. Another said members of Swift’s circle urged her to let the disagreement go.

Speculation about the friends’ loyalty had also surfaced during Swift’s 2016 dispute with Kim Kardashian. After Kardashian released footage of a conversation between Swift and Kanye West about his song “Famous,” Kloss said Kardashian had been “a lovely person” to her. Kloss later defended her friendship with Swift on Twitter, writing: “Taylor has always had my back and I will always have hers.” One source said the comment had bothered Swift, but another said Kardashian was not responsible for the eventual rift.

Kloss continued to associate with Braun, who attended her second wedding celebration in 2019; Swift did not. The former friends reportedly ran into each other in New York about four years ago and hugged despite an initially awkward moment. A source said the friendship had room to resume once Kloss was no longer managed by Braun.

Kloss later attended Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden in July with her husband, Joshua Kushner, and joined Swift, her mother Andrea and other family members at Arrowhead Stadium to support Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs. Insiders described the women as close again. In July 2024, Kloss praised Swift’s album “The Tortured Poets Department,” calling her music “classic” and naming “Shake It Off” as her favorite Swift song.