Taylor Swift's courtside appearance sparks buzz over who was seated behind her
Taylor Swift's appearance at NBA Finals Game 4 came with an unexpected twist as she found herself just rows away from a familiar figure from her past. Here's what happened.
Taylor Swift’s appearance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals came with an unexpected twist that few fans noticed at first. While the pop superstar cheered from her courtside seat alongside close friends Alana and Este Haim, another familiar face from a significant chapter of her career was seated just a few rows away — Scooter Braun, the man who claimed ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums.
The pop superstar was seen courtside at Madison Square Garden alongside sisters Alana and Este Haim, cheering on the action in custom Knicks-inspired outfits.
Take a look at Swift during the NBA finals:
Unbeknownst to many watching, USA-based Businessman Braun was seated only a few rows behind Swift with his girlfriend, actor Sydney Sweeney, making for a rare near-encounter between two figures whose names have been linked to one of the music industry's most public disputes.
According to footage shared by Entertainment Tonight, Braun and Sweeney were positioned just behind Swift’s section, separated by a barricade. It remains unclear whether Swift was aware of Braun’s presence during the game.
Watch the video here:
How close were Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun?
The seating arrangement marked one of the closest physical proximities between Swift and Braun since their highly publicised feud began in 2019.
The dispute erupted when Braun acquired Swift’s former record label, Big Machine, in a deal reportedly worth $330 million, gaining ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums. Swift publicly opposed the sale and later launched her ambitious re-recording project in an effort to regain control of her catalogue.
What happened in the masters dispute?
Braun eventually sold the rights to Swift’s masters to Shamrock Capital in 2020. Nearly five years later, the singer announced she had successfully regained ownership of her original recordings.
Sharing the news with fans in May 2025, Swift described the moment as a dream realised after years of uncertainty. She later revealed on fiance Travis Kelce’s podcast that she broke down in tears when the purchase was finalised.
Meanwhile, Braun responded publicly by wishing Swift well. More recently, he reflected on the controversy during an appearance on Suzy Weiss’ Second Thought podcast, saying he felt unfairly portrayed during the dispute and noting that he had only met Swift a handful of times.
What else has Taylor Swift been up to?
Away from the NBA spotlight, Swift has been making headlines for both her professional and personal milestones. The singer recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5, where she performed her track I Knew It, I Knew You from the film's soundtrack for the first time in front of a live audience.
Meanwhile, reports continue to swirl about her relationship with fiance Travis Kelce, with several outlets suggesting the couple are preparing for a wedding in New York City this July. While neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed the speculation, the pair remain one of entertainment's most closely watched couples as fans await their next big announcement
Taylor Swift’s appearance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals came with an unexpected twist that few fans noticed at first. While the pop superstar cheered from her courtside seat alongside close friends Alana and Este Haim, another familiar face from a significant chapter of her career was seated just a few rows away — Scooter Braun, the man who claimed ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums.
The pop superstar was seen courtside at Madison Square Garden alongside sisters Alana and Este Haim, cheering on the action in custom Knicks-inspired outfits.
Take a look at Swift during the NBA finals:
Unbeknownst to many watching, USA-based Businessman Braun was seated only a few rows behind Swift with his girlfriend, actor Sydney Sweeney, making for a rare near-encounter between two figures whose names have been linked to one of the music industry's most public disputes.
According to footage shared by Entertainment Tonight, Braun and Sweeney were positioned just behind Swift’s section, separated by a barricade. It remains unclear whether Swift was aware of Braun’s presence during the game.
Watch the video here:
How close were Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun?
The seating arrangement marked one of the closest physical proximities between Swift and Braun since their highly publicised feud began in 2019.
The dispute erupted when Braun acquired Swift’s former record label, Big Machine, in a deal reportedly worth $330 million, gaining ownership of the master recordings of her first six albums. Swift publicly opposed the sale and later launched her ambitious re-recording project in an effort to regain control of her catalogue.
What happened in the masters dispute?
Braun eventually sold the rights to Swift’s masters to Shamrock Capital in 2020. Nearly five years later, the singer announced she had successfully regained ownership of her original recordings.
Sharing the news with fans in May 2025, Swift described the moment as a dream realised after years of uncertainty. She later revealed on fiance Travis Kelce’s podcast that she broke down in tears when the purchase was finalised.
Meanwhile, Braun responded publicly by wishing Swift well. More recently, he reflected on the controversy during an appearance on Suzy Weiss’ Second Thought podcast, saying he felt unfairly portrayed during the dispute and noting that he had only met Swift a handful of times.
What else has Taylor Swift been up to?
Away from the NBA spotlight, Swift has been making headlines for both her professional and personal milestones. The singer recently attended the Los Angeles premiere of Toy Story 5, where she performed her track I Knew It, I Knew You from the film's soundtrack for the first time in front of a live audience.
Meanwhile, reports continue to swirl about her relationship with fiance Travis Kelce, with several outlets suggesting the couple are preparing for a wedding in New York City this July. While neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed the speculation, the pair remain one of entertainment's most closely watched couples as fans await their next big announcement
