Casey Wasserman has decided to put his namesake talent agency and marketing firm up for sale while he grapples with the intense fallout from the revelations of his past relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell as detailed in the Epstein files disclosure.
Wasserman confirmed his plan in a memo to Wasserman staff that was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The sale will also include the Brillstein Entertainment Partners talent division that has long handled A-listers such as Brad Pitt.
“I’m deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort,” Wasserman wrote in a memo sent Friday evening.
“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,” Wasserman wrote.
The embattled entrepreneur acknowledged the pressure to hastily sell his company was difficult to handle.
“Other than my children and my fiancée, there are two things that matter most to me in this world: this company that I founded 24 years ago, and the dream I’ve pursued for more than a decade of bringing the Olympic Games back to the city I love,” Wasserman wrote.
The specifics of Wasserman’s plan to divest his agencies were not immediately clear. Wasserman, a longtime sports and media investor, is also chairman of LA28, the committee organizing the Summer Olympic Games that are headed for Los Angeles in 2028. Wasserman earlier this week was reaffirmed in that post by vote of the LA28 board amid increasing public cries by local officials for him to step down from that high-profile role.
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Wasserman, the grandson of legendary Hollywood agent Lew Wasserman, has seen his fortunes spiral since the extent of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime Epstein associate who was found guilty on sex-trafficking charges and is currently in prison, was revealed in the latest batch of Epstein files. The files disclosed emails exchanged between Maxwell and Wasserman in 2003 that were flirty and risque at a time when Wasserman was married. Wasserman expressed his regret for the relationship and emphasized that he had no connections to Epstein, nor did any surface in the millions of files released by the Justice Department. But the damage was done.
Artists who have left the agency in recent days include Chappell Roan, Gigi Perez, Orville Peck, Wednesday, Weyes Blood, Water From Your Eyes, Beach Bunny, Local Natives, Chelsea Cutler, Dropkick Murphys and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino — whose social media post last week basically started the exodus — among other acts.
The agency is one of the largest in the music business, with a roster also featuring Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Phish, Raye, SZA, Joni Mitchell, Janelle Monae, Geese and frontman Cameron Winter, Tyler, the Creator, Wednesday and hundreds of others. Wasserman’s artist roster was taken down from its website at some point over the last couple of days, presumably in response to artists’ requests for their names to be removed.
Wasserman acquired its music operations in 2021 when Paradigm talent agency went through a fire sale process. He acquired the highly regarded entertainment management firm Brillstein Entertainment Partners in 2023.
Wasserman’s initial business was sports, but its acquisition of many of the music assets from Paradigm in 2021 led it to become one of the biggest music agencies. It also has smaller but significant film/TV agency.
On balance, Wasserman is not currently connected to any of Epstein’s crimes or misconduct and is documented as riding on Epstein’s private jet once (on a 2002 humanitarian trip with a Clinton Foundation delegation), and exchanging raunchy emails with Maxwell while he was married, years before Epstein’s disturbing crimes became public. He has apologized for the connection, saying he was “terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.” He is also the head of several charities.
However, it is the second such scandal in 18 months for Wasserman. In July of 2024 — ironically, during the Paris Olympics — a damning report emerged in which Wasserman, grandson of the vaunted Hollywood dealmaker Lew Wasserman, was accused of having “serial” affairs with junior employees over many years. These reported indiscretions — on which Wasserman did not comment — caused a stir at the time but seemed to fade as weeks went by. Billie Eilish’s departure from the agency was perceived to be connected to the report, although multiple sources insist that she was already leaving when it emerged.
Coming so soon after the previous allegations, optics — particularly for a company named after its founder — can matter more than facts.
Here is Wasserman’s memo in full:
Team:
I wanted to write to you all directly to share a few important updates. Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken to many of you directly – and I wish I could have spoken with each and every one of you because you all have put your hearts and souls into this incredible organization.
First and foremost, I want to apologize to you. I’m deeply sorry that my 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.
The pain experienced by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell is unimaginable – and I’m glad, as I’m sure you all are, that those who helped them commit their crimes are rightly being held accountable.
Hopefully by now you know the facts about my limited interactions with those two individuals. It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending. And I’m 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.
Other than my children and my fiancée, there are two things that matter most to me in this world: this company that I founded 24 years ago, and the dream I’ve pursued for more than a decade of bringing the Olympic Games back to the city I love.
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.
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.
I so appreciate the passion and fight you bring to your jobs. It’s why you succeed.
I’m beyond proud of what this company has accomplished to date and excited to watch its next chapter.
All my best,
Casey
From Variety US