If you’re a pop music and K-pop fan, you’ll be familiar with the name Scooter Braun. The music executive doesn’t have the best rep amongst fans for many reasons – but a recent update on his role in HYBE America garnered mixed reactions.
Yesterday (1st July 2025, Tuesday), major news outlets reported that Scooter will be stepping down from his CEO position at HYBE America. The music mogul has been the head of the HYBE subsidiary since its establishment in 2021 after the South Korean company acquired Scooter’s company, Ithaca Holdings. It’s unknown when the move will be official, but the news has been shared internally amongst HYBE America staffers.
Online, netizens cheered over the news of Scooter stepping down as CEO. K-pop fans have repeatedly called for HYBE to distance themselves from the record executive because of his open support for Zionism and other controversies. Many were happy with the news that Scooter will no longer be heading the company, which houses the global girl group KATSEYE.
However, there’s more to this announcement. While Scooter may no longer be the CEO of HYBE America, he’ll still hold an advisory position in the company. The 44-year-old will join the HYBE Board of Directors as a director and a senior advisor to chairman and CEO Bang Si-Hyuk. Scooter will also remain the second-largest individual shareholder in the company and will continue to help guide artists on the HYBE roster.
Fans are understandably not happy to hear that Scooter will still play a role in the company and the activities of HYBE Label artists, especially KATSEYE. Some have continued to pressure the company against platforming supporters of Zionism by helping trend the hashtag #HYBEDivestFromZionism on social media. Others said they would continue to boycott the company and its releases until they cut all ties with Scooter.
Meanwhile, Isaac Lee Possin, who has been chairman of HYBE Latin America since November 2023, will take over the HYBE America CEO position. What are your thoughts on this?
Sources: Koreaboo, The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter (1)(2)
