Taylor Swift is leaning into her reputation.
On Tuesday, June 18, the pop superstar, 34, delighted Swifties in Cardiff when she mashed up two diss tracks, “I Forgot That You Existed” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” during her surprise set.
When the singer reached the lyric, “‘Cause forgiveness is a nice thing to do,'” Swift threw both her hands into her hair and burst out into prolonged laughter as the crowd cheered her on.
Fans immediately flooded social media with clips of the moment, pointing out that her longtime nemesis Scooter Braun was celebrating his 43rd birthday on the same day.
“I FORGOT THAT YOU EXISTED X THIS IS WHY WE CANT HAVE NICE THINGS RIGHT AFTER SCOOTER BRAUN ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, TAYLOR SWIFT WILL NEVER NOT BE FUNNY,” wrote one Swiftie.
Swift and Braun have been feuding since the HYBE CEO — who announced his retirement from music management in a lengthy note on June 17 — purchased Big Machine Label Group, which included the master rights of Swift’s first six albums, for more than $300 million in 2019. (He has since sold the rights.)
Shortly after news of Braun’s deal with her former label head, Scott Borchetta, went public, Swift slammed both men and later announced she would be re-recording her albums. “All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years,” wrote Swift in a Tumblr post.
In an open letter to Swift shared on his Instagram account days later, Braun claimed he had “tried repeatedly” to “achieve a solution” with the singer, adding that he was “frustrated” with her “accusations.”
When Swift dropped her album Midnights in 2022, several pointed lyrics — including on “Vigilante S—” and “Karma” — were rumored to have been inspired by their ongoing drama.
“I have been blessed to have had a ‘Forrest Gump’-like life while witnessing and taking part in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen. I’m constantly pinching myself and asking ‘how did I get here?’ And after 23 years this chapter as a music manager has come to an end,” Braun — who has worked with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Tori Kelly and more — shared on his Instagram account earlier this week.
Going forward Braun, who’s dad to three kids (with ex-wife Yael Cohen), will be a “father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more,” he wrote.