Chappell Roan drops Wasserman after CEO appears in Epstein files
Chappell Roan has confirmed his departure from the Wasserman Agency after its founder, Casey Wasserman, was named in the recently released batch of Epstein files.
“As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency run by Casey Wasserman,” she wrote in an Instagram story on Monday.
Roan continued: “I demand the highest standards from my teams and I also have a duty to protect them,” Roan continued. “No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or ignore actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values. I have deep respect and appreciation for the agents and staff who work tirelessly for their artists and I refuse to passively sit idly by.”
The “Good Luck, Babe” artist also expressed her belief that artists deserve representation aligned with their values. “This decision reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that deserves trust.”
And the Grammy winner isn’t the only one leaving the agency following the Epstein dossier revelations, with several agents also planning to leave, according to The Wrap.
Documents released by the Justice Department revealed electronic correspondence between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell. In the emails, Maxwell suggests giving Wasserman a massage.
Wasserman has since released a statement to the New York Times saying he “never had a personal or professional relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.”
The agency owner added: “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light.”
Patrick McMullan Archives
Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend de Grisogono Sponsors for the 2005 Wall Street Concert Series benefiting Wall Street Rising, featuring a performance by Rod Stewart at Cipriani Wall Street on March 15, 2005 in New York. (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
As current president of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Wasserman now faces increasing pressure to step down.
In 2020, Maxwell was arrested for her ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She was tried on six counts of sex trafficking, was convicted of five counts, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.
Other musicians and athletes represented by the Wasserman Agency include Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, among others.
