Sydney Sweeney's Instagram Official with Scooter Braun Sparks Fan Backlash
Fans of actress Sydney Sweeney have expressed less than enthusiastic reactions after she went Instagram official with music mogul Scooter Braun, with his gloating response further fueling the controversy. The 28-year-old blonde bombshell and the 44-year-old businessman took their romance public after ten months of dating, sharing a sweet black-and-white snapshot to her Instagram Stories.
Braun's Crass Remark and Fan Reactions
Scooter Braun, known as Taylor Swift's nemesis, reposted his younger girlfriend's story on Wednesday with a rather crass two-word remark: 'Lucky bastard.' This prompted immediate backlash from fans on social media platforms like Reddit. One fan labeled the pair an 'icky couple,' while another added, 'They make so much sense in the worst way.'
Questions arose about the age gap, with one fan wondering why a 'beautiful 28-year-old multi-millionaire woman' is dating a 'divorced dad in his mid-40s.' Others joked about Sweeney having a 'humiliation kink' or targeting Swiftie hate by dating Braun. However, some defended the couple, with a commenter stating, 'God forbid she post a happy photo with her boyfriend. Why feel bad for someone living her best life? She doesn't need your sympathy.'
Relationship Timeline and Public Appearances
The original photo, taken by famous photographer Eddy Chen, featured Sweeney with a massive smile while Braun stood behind her. Braun had previously shared a post on Wednesday highlighting Sweeney's success, reading 'Sydney Sweeney Just Went No. 1 in Both Film and TV.' The couple has kept a relatively low profile since their relationship began last June, but they have become more public recently, with Braun accompanying Sweeney to the Euphoria season 3 premiere in Los Angeles last week.
Their romance started when they crossed paths at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding functions in Venice over the summer. This came only months after Sweeney ended her engagement to Jonathan Davino in March 2025. Meanwhile, Braun was married to health activist Yael Cohen from 2014 until their divorce was finalized in September 2022, and they share three children.
Insider Insights and Sweeney's Personal Reflections
Sources told Page Six that Braun had been 'obsessed' with Sweeney after their meeting and began 'pursuing' her following the wedding. In June, it was reported that the two were 'casually dating,' with an insider explaining to TMZ, 'Sydney has just ended a relationship and she's doing what women in their 20's do - she's dating.'
During a recent interview with Cosmopolitan published late last month, Sweeney opened up about navigating her love life in the spotlight. She said, 'I was in a relationship for a very long time, for seven and a half years, and I never talked about it,' referencing her past relationship with Davino. 'I was very private. No one would ever see us. I think it's important to have some things for myself. I understand that I'm a public person, but I'm still in my 20s.'
The star further explained that she is still 'figuring out love, and it's hard to do that with millions of people who have their own opinions of what that looks like.' She added that she has a desire to 'experience things' and noted, 'it's hard deciding that I want to experience love in the public eye. I'm just navigating it all.' When describing her type of man, Sweeney said, 'Athletic and outgoing and funny. I'm a sporty girl, so someone needs to be able to climb a mountain with me, go skydiving with me. And someone who loves their family. I love myself a man...'
