Entertainment executive Casey Wasserman has announced plans to sell his talent agency, the Wasserman Group, following a growing wave of client departures after his communications with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell resurfaced in newly released Epstein-related documents.
In a memo to staff, Wasserman said he had “become a distraction” and confirmed he had begun the process of selling the company.
“I believe that I have become a distraction”
“At this moment, I believe that I have become a distraction,” he wrote. “That is why I have begun the process of selling the company.”
The controversy stems from a batch of recently released US justice department documents that included emails between Wasserman and Maxwell dating back to 2003. Wasserman has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing and has said the correspondence took place long before Maxwell’s crimes became publicly known. He has also stated he never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite that, a number of high-profile clients have cut ties with the Wasserman Group in recent days, including Chappell Roan, Dropkick Murphys, Orville Peck, John Summit, Weyes Blood, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, and indie band Wednesday, among others.
In a statement explaining her departure, Roan said artists “deserve representation that aligns with their values and supports their safety and dignity,” adding that meaningful change in the industry requires accountability and trust.
While Dropkick Murphy’s stated: ““We love our agents. They are great partners. We signed with them years before they merged with Wasserman. It saddens us to part ways with them, but the namesake of the agency is in the Epstein files so… We GONE.”
Wasserman has since apologised to staff for the fallout, saying he was “deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort” and that the situation was unfair to employees and clients alike.
The Wasserman Group is one of the entertainment industry’s major talent and marketing agencies, representing artists across music, sport, film and television. Company president Mike Watts will oversee day-to-day operations during the sale process.
Beyond talent representation, Wasserman is also chair of the organising committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He said he would now devote his full attention to delivering the event. The LA28 committee has voted to keep him in the role following a review, stating his known relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not extend beyond what had already been publicly documented.
Wasserman joins a number of high-profile business leaders who have stepped aside from positions following scrutiny over past connections to Epstein or Maxwell. For now, the future ownership of the Wasserman Group remains unclear.
Further Reading
NEWS FLASHBACK: Dropkick Murphys Involved In Fatal Tour Bus Accident
ALBUM REVIEW: Dropkick Murphys – Signed and Sealed In Blood
Love Letter To A Record: wednesday On Chappell Roan’s ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’
