Wasserman CEO to sell agency following Epstein files fallout

Casey Wasserman, founder and CEO of Wasserman Group, is putting the talent and marketing agency up for sale amidst the fallout from his appearance in the Epstein files. 

Per the Wall Street Journal, Wasserman shared a memo to staff on Friday night (13th February) telling them that he felt he had “become a distraction” and that he had begun the process of selling the company. 

The move comes after the US Justice Department released three million files relating to the convicted pedophile and child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in late January. Included in those files were multiple suggestive email exchanges between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell dating back to the early 2000s. Maxwell, a close associate of Epstein’s, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence on child sex trafficking charges as well as other offences. 

The Wasserman Group, through its Wasserman Music subsidiary, oversees management and events bookings for some of the biggest names in music, including a wide-ranging roster of DJs, producers and live musicians from across the electronic music world. 

In light of the revelations, many artists have spoken out or sought to sever ties with the agency. Pop and rock artists such as Chappel Roan and Wednesday announced their departure from the agency last week, while others such as Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, former DJ Mag cover star salute, Lane 8, Louis The Child and Sylvan Esso have issued statements putting pressure on Wasserman to step down, or distancing themselves from the agency entirely.

In a statement shared to X on Friday, John Summit wrote: “if casey wasserman doesn’t step down, i will not remain with the agency his actions do not reflect the integrity of the agents i work with, and if change does not happen, we will take our talents elsewhere.”

Announcing their departure from the agency in an Instagram story, ODEZSA wrote: “We can’t continue to be associated with a company that fails to hold those in power accountable for their actions… We have worked with the same booking agent, whose previous company was purchased by Wasserman in 2021, since the very beginning of our careers. While we have never met or spoken with Casey Wasserman, and he is not our agent, we cannot remain connected to a company led by him and bearing his name.”

In the wake of the documents being made public, Wasserman issued an initial public apology on 1st February. In the statement, Wasserman said he “deeply regrets” the flirtatious exchanges with Maxwell and emphasised that they occurred “long before her horrific crimes came to light”. 

He denied having any personal or professional relationship with Epstein, but did acknowledge going on “a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane”. “I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them,” he added. 

In the memo sent to staff on Friday, Wasserman said that he was “heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks.”

He also said that the “pain experienced by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is unimaginable” and that “past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort … 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 also faced calls to resign from his position as chair of the LA28 Olympics committee. 

Earlier this week,  United Musicians & Allied Workers noted in an Instagram post that Wasserman talent agency has removed its artist roster from its website.