Chappell Roan has cut ties with talent agency Wasserman Music following the recent release of US Department of Justice documents that revealed correspondence between the company’s CEO and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Roan announced her departure via a social media post on Monday (February 9) evening, saying she could no longer work with an agency, which is led by Casey Wasserman, who is also the chairman of the 2028 LA Olympics.
Wasserman has not been accused of any illegal activity in connection with the documents.
“As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman,” Roan wrote.
“I hold my teams to the highest standards and have a duty to protect them as well. No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.”
She continued: “I have deep respect and appreciation for the agents and staff who work tirelessly for their artists and I refuse to passively stand by. Artists deserve representation that aligns with their values and supports their safety and dignity. This decision reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust.”
“No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.”
Chappell Roan
The development comes after emails between Casey Wasserman and Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell became public.
In a statement released Saturday (February 7), Wasserman said: “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” which he said happened “long before her horrific crimes came to light.”
“I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went 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 was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
“Artists deserve representation that aligns with their values and supports their safety and dignity. This decision reflects my belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust.”
Chappell Roan
Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to abuse minors. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in August 2019, one month after being indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Roan is among a few artists to either quit or publicly call out Wasserman in recent days. Rock band Wednesday also announced their departure on Monday, while indie acts Beach Bunny, Water From Your Eyes, and Salute have also called for accountability from Casey Wasserman, while a group of music agents at the company threatened to resign.
Wednesday said: “Given the circumstances we feel strongly that we need to begin the process of extracting ourselves from Wasserman. Continuing to be represented by a company led by and named after Casey Wasserman goes against our values and cannot continue. For the sake of his staff we hope that he steps down from the company and it is rebranded, but until that happens or we find a new home at a new agency we will not continue to be associated with Wasserman.”
“I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell… I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.”
Casey Wasserman, wasserman music
Water From Your Eyes wrote: “Casey Wasserman, the founder and CEO of the Wasserman agency which has been representing us since 2024, is a close associate of the world’s most vile and repugnant social circle and human trafficking network—not to mention his unwavering support of the genocidal Israeli state.”
“His ‘deepest regrets’ and PR apologies mean nothing in the wake of violence against women and children caused by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their accomplices. There must be accountability for the atrocities committed by the ruling class. We cannot live in a world that allows for this injustice to occur with no consequence.”
“Given the circumstances we feel strongly that we need to begin the process of extracting ourselves from Wasserman… For the sake of his staff we hope that he steps down from the company and it is rebranded.”
Wednesday
Beach Bunny wrote on Instagram: “[W]e are hugely disappointed and disgusted to learn that the founder and CEO of our booking agency Casey Wasserman had involvement with Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker and fucking terrible person. Washerman’s actions are abhorrent and disturbing on every level. We are demanding for Wassermann to remove himself and his name from the agency.”
Roan was previously represented by Jackie Nalpant, Kiely Mosiman, Adele Slater, and Anna Bewers at Wasserman Music.
Wasserman represents hundreds of artists including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Tyler, the Creator. The agency removed its artist roster from its website over the weekend as the controversy intensified, according to Pitchfork.
In 2024, Billie Eilish left Wasserman Music for rival agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) in the wake of a tabloid scandal surrounding Casey Wasserman. An August 1, 2024 report in the Daily Mail described Casey Wasserman as a “serial cheater”. The Mail said it had 11 unnamed sources for the report, “including some of [Wasserman’s] mistresses.”
“[Casey Wasserman’s] ‘deepest regrets’ and PR apologies mean nothing in the wake of violence against women and children caused by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their accomplices.”
Water From Your eyes
Wasserman Music launched in 2021 after Wasserman completed its acquisition of Paradigm Talent Agency’s North American live music representation business.
In July 2025, Wasserman expanded its Artist Services and Communications teams with the addition of Lydia Barry as VP, Marketing & Communications, Emily Kennedy as VP, Business Development, Pop, and Michael Delle Donne as VP, Digital Partnerships.
Then in November, Wasserman expanded its UK operation with a series of new hires across tour marketing, artist services and artist representation, as the agency continues to build out its global footprint. The team now includes Paul Ryan as Senior Vice President and Agent, Chris Lander as Vice President within its artist services division, Rebecca Laurie as Manager on the Tour Marketing team, and Laura Flynn as Manager, Tour Marketing.
Music Business Worldwide
