By Tasnim Oyshi
Staff Writer
Chappell Roan announced to her fans on Feb. 9 that she had left sports marketing and talent management agency Wasserman through an Instagram story. This was in response to Casey Wasserman, the founder of the company, being named in the Epstein Files and revealed to have shared emails with convicted sex offender Ghislane Maxwell in 2003.
Roan detailed the reason for her departure and her ethical perspective on the situation. “As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman,” she wrote. “I hold my teams to the highest standards and have a duty to protect them as well. No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.”
“This decision reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust,” she continued. In light of the amount of celebrities and public figures that have been found to be connected to Jeffrey Epstein, Roan has joined musicians Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Beach Bunny and Wednesday in condemning Wasseman’s actions, according to Deadline.
This is not the first time that Wasserman lost a major artist over a sex scandal. In August of 2024, Billie Eilish left the agency after a report by the Daily Mail was released, calling him a “serial cheater” and accusing him of sleeping with his employees, according to Variety.
Although Wasserman himself has not been charged for any criminal activity, his emails with Maxwell were provocative and suggested an intimate relationship. “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” he asked in one message.
According to the Associated Press, he also boarded Epstein’s plane in 2002 to go on a philanthropic trip with former President Bill Clinton. Since the revelation, Wasserman has come out with an apology and explanation of his actions, stating that he never did business with Epstein and only met him once.
In a staff memo sent out on Feb. 13, Wasserman announced that he would be selling the company and Mike Watts will be in charge for the time being, according to USA Today. The memo included an apology to his employees, a reiteration of how he met with Epstein once during their trip in 2002 and how he was not aware of Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes at the time.
Wasserman is currently serving as a member of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics committee, which he will now be primarily focusing on. “During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” he said.
Questions have risen about whether Wasserman will be selling the entire company or individual divisions and who will be the new owner. According to the Wrap, the agency will soon be renamed.
There has been backlash against his choice to stay in the 2028 Summer Olympics committee and many want him to step down, according to IMDb. However, there has not been any news about him leaving the Olympics committee.
