Carly Rae Jepsen has opened up about her decision to leave Scooter Braun’s management team, revealing that the move was largely about taking her career in a different creative direction.
The Canadian singer discussed the professional split in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter published September 8, 2026. Jepsen made it clear that she does not view the decision as a bitter fallout with Braun.
Instead, she said she realized that she wanted to pursue music that felt less mainstream and more aligned with her own artistic instincts.
Carly Rae Jepsen Wanted a Different Creative Direction
Jepsen explained that she eventually recognized that she and Braun had different ideas about the direction of her career.
She said she was “on a different journey” from what Braun understood and wanted to explore something less mainstream.
The singer added that she appreciated what Braun had offered during their professional relationship. However, those plans no longer reflected what she wanted for herself.
For Jepsen, ending the working relationship became a way to give herself more freedom to explore creatively.
Jepsen Says There Is No Bad Blood With Scooter Braun
Despite leaving Braun’s management, Jepsen did not describe their split as a personal feud.
She characterized the decision as a relatively straightforward professional choice. In her view, it was time to move forward and allow herself to follow a different path.
Jepsen also joked that she “took one of his employees” with her when she moved on.
That comment reflects the tone of her explanation. Rather than presenting the split as a dramatic celebrity dispute, Jepsen described it as part of finding the right people to support her career.
Carly Rae Jepsen Previously Confirmed the Split in 2023
Jepsen’s departure from Braun’s management was not actually new.
In August 2023, a representative for Jepsen confirmed to the Associated Press that she was no longer working with Braun and had not been doing so for some time. At that point, however, no specific reason for the professional separation was publicly given.
The latest interview provides more context about what was behind the decision.
Jepsen’s explanation also helps distinguish her situation from speculation surrounding other artists who had previously been associated with Braun.
Jepsen Says She Is Happier With Her Current Team
The singer said finding the right management setup took some time.
According to Jepsen, she has experienced both positive and difficult professional relationships while figuring out what works best for her. She now says she is “happier than I’ve ever been.”
That change appears to be important to Jepsen as she continues developing her music career on her own terms.
Her comments suggest that creative control and personal direction have become increasingly important as she enters the next stage of her career.
How Carly Rae Jepsen and Scooter Braun First Connected
Jepsen’s relationship with Braun dates back to the breakthrough period of “Call Me Maybe.”
The song became a major international success after Justin Bieber, who was then associated with Braun, helped bring attention to Jepsen and the track.
Jepsen subsequently worked with Braun professionally as her career expanded internationally.
By 2023, the Associated Press had confirmed that she was no longer part of Braun’s management roster.
Scooter Braun Has Since Left Artist Management
Jepsen’s comments come after a major change in Braun’s own career.
Braun announced in 2024 that he was stepping away from artist management after 23 years. He said his focus would shift toward his executive responsibilities and other business priorities.
That means Braun and Jepsen are now on separate professional paths.
Still, Jepsen’s latest comments make clear that her decision to leave was primarily about where she wanted her own career to go rather than an apparent personal conflict.
What Comes Next for Carly Rae Jepsen?
For Jepsen, the focus now appears to be on creative freedom and finding the right team around her.
Her comments offer a more personal explanation for a professional split that had been publicly known for several years.
Rather than looking back at the end of her relationship with Braun as a major falling-out, Jepsen appears focused on what comes next.
Her approach also fits the evolution of her career. While she became a global pop star through mainstream hits, she has continued exploring different sounds and artistic directions throughout her career.
As she moves forward, Jepsen says she has found a team and working environment that better match the kind of artist she wants to be.