Entertainment mogul Scooter Braun has opened up about experiencing suicidal thoughts in 2020, during a turbulent period marked by the collapse of his marriage and his high-profile feud with pop icon Taylor Swift.
Speaking on The Diary of a CEO podcast Monday, the 43-year-old executive, known for managing global stars like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato, said that behind his professional success, he was battling deep personal pain.
Braun revealed that his marriage to now-ex-wife Yael Cohen was unravelling at the time. The couple, who share three children, officially split in 2021. R
He said he entered a mental health crisis in October 2020.
He added: “It went to a very dark place. I had a suicidal thought for 20 minutes... I can’t control this. I’m not going to be this perfect image that I’ve presented to the world. If I can’t be this perfect image, I don’t want to be here.”
At the height of his personal struggles, Braun said that the public perception was far from reality. “Everyone thought I was crushing it,” he said. “But inside, I was falling apart.”
A pivotal moment came when a trusted friend recommended he attend The Hoffman Process, a week-long personal development retreat that helps participants work through deep-rooted emotional patterns. Braun said it helped him find clarity and commit to living for what truly matters, especially his children.
“That’s not me. I would never leave my kids. I don’t want to leave anybody. Like, what was that?” he said of his suicidal ideation.
Though he refrained from discussing specific details of the divorce, Braun emphasised the mutual nature of the marital breakdown, noting, “We’re family forever… Things happened both ways.”
He credited the retreat for shifting his perspective and helping him heal. He said that even Ariana Grande postponed the release of her Dangerous Woman album to support his mental health journey.
“I’m at the top of my game, yet I wanted to kill myself. Something had to change.”
Braun’s honest account is a stark reminder that mental health struggles can affect anyone — even those who appear to have it all. His story underscores the importance of seeking help and prioritising emotional well-being.