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In a significant move on Monday, pop sensation Chappell Roan announced her decision to sever ties with her talent agency, Wasserman. This decision follows revelations that the agency’s CEO, Casey Wasserman, was named in the latest set of documents released by the Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Roan took to her Instagram Story to make her stance clear, stating, “As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman. I hold my teams to the highest standards and have a duty to protect them as well.” Her words underscore the importance she places on integrity and the alignment of values between artists and their representatives.
The “Pink Pony Club” singer further emphasized that no one in the industry—whether artist, agent, or employee—should be put in a position where they must defend or overlook actions that starkly contradict their moral compass. Roan’s statement reflects a growing sentiment among artists for transparent and ethical business practices.
Despite her departure, Roan expressed her gratitude toward the agents and staff who work diligently with artists, acknowledging their vital role. She stressed that musicians deserve representation that not only champions their careers but also upholds their values and safeguards their dignity and security.
Roan’s decision places her among a growing list of artists challenging Wasserman following the Department of Justice’s release of a trove of documents related to Epstein on January 30. Among the voices calling for change is Bethany Cosentino, lead singer of Best Coast, who has urged Casey Wasserman to resign and for the agency to rebrand itself in an effort to dissociate from its CEO.
The emails show a suggestive correspondence between Wasserman and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse and traffic minors.
“Staying quiet isn’t something I can do in good conscience — especially in a moment when men in power are so often protected, excused, or allowed to move on without consequence,” Cosentino wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “Pretending this isn’t a big deal is not an option for me.”
Wasserman apologized for his correspondence with Maxwell shortly after the DOJ release. He said their exchange happened “long before her horrific crimes came to light,” according to a statement obtained by The New York Times.
“I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” Wasserman said. “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.”
Wasserman also serves as chair of the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and multiple Los Angeles officials last week called on Wasserman to resign after the emails were released.
“LA28 has lauded the likelihood of having more women participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games than ever before in history,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement obtained by the Los Angeles Times. “What does that mean when the organization is led by an intimate friend of a convicted human trafficker? Now is the time for LA28 to demonstrate how much they truly value women.”
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia wrote on the social platform X that the city “cannot trust our financial future to someone connected with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. LA 2028 Olympics Committee Chair Casey Wasserman must take accountability and resign.”
On Monday, Maxwell was called for a deposition with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, but she asserted her Fifth Amendment rights and declined to answer lawmakers’ questions.