Casey Wasserman, the veteran Hollywood talent agent who also chairs the LA28 Olympic committee, is selling his agency amid a growing controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Why it matters: Wasserman has seen a few high-profile celebrity clients exit in response to revelations about suggestive emails he sent to Maxwell that were revealed as part of the Epstein files.
- Grammy Award-winning pop star Chappell Roan on Monday said she is no longer represented by Wasserman, citing a need for representation that aligns with her moral values.
- U.S. Soccer star Abby Wambach also said she left the agency.
Zoom in: Wasserman informed employees of the sale in an email Friday night.
- "This organization, its leadership and the entire team mean the world to me. Our 4,000 employees are the absolute best in the business. I see you put it all on the line for your clients every day. Our clients expect — and deserve — world-class representation. And that's exactly what they get because of all of you," Wasserman wrote.
- "At this moment, I believe that I have become a distraction to those efforts. That is why I have begun the process of selling the company, an effort that is already underway. 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."
Zoom out: Wasserman, who issued an apology for his association with Epstein and Maxwell, has also faced pressure to step down from his role as chair of the LA28 Olympic Committee.
- The LA28 executive committee has so far stood by him.
The big picture: Wasserman is one of the most high-profile talent agencies in Hollywood.
- Casey Wasserman, whose father Lew Wasserman was also a very successful Hollywood agent and mogul, is one of the most powerful people in the industry.
