Pop singer Chappell Roan announced on Monday that she has ended her professional relationship with the talent agency headed by Casey Wasserman, the chief of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, who recently faced backlash for engaging in flirtatious email exchanges with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell over two decades ago. Wasserman has expressed regret for his communication with Maxwell following the disclosure of their personal email correspondence.
Newly released files linked to the deceased financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Maxwell’s former partner, by the U.S. Justice Department last month included flirtatious email exchanges between Wasserman, who was married at the time, and Maxwell dating back to 2003.
In an Instagram post, Roan stated, “I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman. Artists deserve representation that aligns with their values and ensures their safety and dignity. My decision reflects the belief that substantial change in our industry necessitates accountability and trustworthy leadership.”
Wasserman, recognized as a sports and entertainment executive, has refuted any personal or business ties with Epstein. While apologizing for his previous association with Maxwell, he clarified that the relationship predated the disclosure of her and Epstein’s crimes.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following her conviction in 2021 by a New York jury on charges related to the sex trafficking of a minor. She was detained in 2020 after federal prosecutors accused her of recruiting and preparing young girls for sexual activities with Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
The release of millions of internal documents by the U.S. Justice Department concerning Epstein has exposed his connections to various influential individuals, both before and after his 2008 guilty plea to charges of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail in 2019 was officially ruled a suicide.