In brief
Casey Wasserman, a prominent figure in the talent management industry, is reportedly set to sell his agency after documents linking him to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced. This development has led to high profile clients, including singer Chappell Roan, resigning from the firm. Wasserman expressed regret over his past associations and acknowledged that he has become a distraction to the agency's operations. Despite this, he maintains that he was not involved in any wrongdoing related to Epstein's actions. Wasserman's decision comes shortly after he was cleared to continue in his role as chair for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Casey Wasserman, a prominent American agent, is reportedly set to sell his talent company after documents linking him to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were published in the US.
Several high-profile clients, including singer Chappell Roan, quit the firm this week after it emerged he flew on Epstein's private plane and exchanged flirtatious emails with Maxwell in 2003.
US media reported Wasserman told employees he had become a distraction as he announced his intention to sell the major LA-based agency.
The 51-year-old, who has also resisted calls to stand down from his role as chair of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, previously said he had no personal or business relationship with Epstein.
I'm deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort, Wasserman wrote in a memo on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported.
He continued: It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to the clients and partners we represent so vigorously and care so deeply about.
Wasserman has said he deeply regrets his discussions with Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for facilitating the sexual abuse of teenage girls by Epstein.
He stated that his emails with Maxwell occurred over two decades ago, long before her disgraceful actions became public knowledge.
Importantly, Wasserman has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims, and the appearance of his name in the files does not imply criminal activity of any kind.
Earlier this week, LA28 announced that Wasserman would remain chairman of the 2028 games after organizers reviewed his past interactions with Maxwell.
They found his relationship did not go further than the exchanges that had already been documented, and that he had fully cooperated with an investigation.
In a statement, the LA28 board noted that Wasserman and his then-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein's plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation in 2003.
The board affirmed that this trip preceded any knowledge of Epstein's and Maxwell's later crimes.
A number of stars have walked away from Wasserman's agency recently, with Chappell Roan announcing on Instagram that she would no longer be associated with him.
Roan expressed, No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.
Former US footballer Abby Wambach also stated she was leaving the agency, expressing, I know what I know and I am following my gut and values. I will not participate in any business arrangement under his leadership.
