A bunch of music brokers at Wasserman are demanding that founder and CEO Casey Wasserman step down from the corporate after his connection to Jeffrey Epstein and racy emails with convicted intercourse offender Ghislaine Maxwell surfaced final week.
Moreover, Grammy-winning celebrity Chappell Roan, who’s represented by the company, is predicted to depart Wasserman imminently over the matter, a educated particular person informed TheWrap. Billie Eilish left the company a yr in the past over revelations of the CEO’s alleged extramarital affairs.
In keeping with two people who spoke to TheWrap, the music brokers embrace Duffy McSwiggin, SVP of Music at Wasserman, senior agent Marty Diamond and several other others.
McSwiggin represents Joni Mitchell, OK Go and Lake Avenue Dive. Diamond represents Coldplay and different acts.
The brokers have introduced Wasserman with an ultimatum to promote them the music enterprise and go away or they’ll go away the company, in keeping with the people. Wasserman, initially a sports-focused company, acquired the music enterprise from Paradigm in 2021.
A spokesperson for Wasserman had no remark when reached by TheWrap. McSwiggin couldn’t be reached for remark. A spokesperson for Roan didn’t get again to TheWrap earlier than publication.
Wasserman has been below fireplace for the previous week after his look within the newest launch of Epstein emails, together with a set of racy emails with Maxwell, who was discovered responsible of kid intercourse trafficking in 2021 and is now incarcerated. In a single 2003 e mail, he wrote her: “I consider you on a regular basis. So, what do I’ve to do to see you in a good leather-based outfit?” Wasserman was married on the time.
Wasserman admitted in a press release final week that he flew on Epstein’s personal jet as a part of a 2002 humanitarian journey with a Clinton Basis delegation. He apologized, saying he was “terribly sorry for having any affiliation with both of them.”
There isn’t any indication from the general public excerpts that Wasserman was concerned in Epstein’s or Maxwell’s prison actions. Requested about this on Fox 11, Los Angeles district legal professional Nathan Hochman mentioned: “I see no proof by any means that Mr. Wasserman has dedicated any sort of prison violation.”
Nevertheless, strain in opposition to Wasserman has been mounting. Two LA Council members demanded that Wasserman resign from the chairmanship of the LA28, town’s Olympic committee. Mayor Karen Bass declined to endorse it when requested final week.
Additionally final week, the frontwoman for the band Finest Coast, Bethany Cosentino, referred to as on Wasserman to step down over his emails. It’s unknown if different Wasserman purchasers have pressured their brokers over the revelations.
The quite a few point out of Wasserman within the Epstein emails have been embarrassing, and are available a yr after one other set of scandalous studies tied to his sexual affairs. In January of final yr, TheWrap reported that Patricia Feau, his former secretary and chief of employees, who was later appointed to a high-paying job as vp on the LA28 Olympic organizing committee, resigned from LA28 amid allegations of an affair and the implication of a payoff with the place. She denied any affair on the time.
Moreover, in 2024 a number of media studies described Wasserman as having had quite a few alleged affairs with ladies who labored for him or have been near his skilled circle whereas he was married to his then-wife, Laura Ziffren Wasserman, from whom he divorced in 2021. The studies referenced alleged relationships with Feau, a flight attendant on his personal jet (now his associate) and different ladies.
Correction: A earlier model of this story acknowledged that Brandi Carlile is represented by Wasserman. She left the company in 2024 for CAA. TheWrap regrets the error.
