Chappell Roan, Abby Wambach Exit Talent Agency As Fallout Over Epstein Files Grows
Roan and Wambach join Orville Peck and other performers severing ties with Wasserman amid mounting backlash over its CEO’s past emails.
Featured image by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
A growing number of queer artists are walking away from the Wasserman talent agency after newly released Justice Department documents revealed email exchanges between CEO Casey Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein. What started as a slow ripple has quickly gained momentum, with queer stars such as Chappell Roan, Abby Wambach, and Orville Peck publicly severing ties. They are joined by Weyes Blood, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Wednesday, Water From Your Eyes, Beach Bunny, and Chelsea Cutler, among others.
The controversy centers on emails from 2002 and 2003 in which Wasserman engaged in flirtatious and explicit exchanges with Maxwell. In a statement to The New York Times, Wasserman said, “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell, which took place over two decades ago, 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.” For many artists, the apology has not cut it.
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Chappell Roan first announced that she would no longer be represented by the agency. “I hold my teams to the highest standards and have a duty to protect them as well,” Roan told fans via Instagram. “No artist, agent, or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values. I have deep respect and appreciation for the agents and staff who work tirelessly for their artists, and I refuse to passively stand by.”
Abby Wambach, the Olympic gold medalist turned author and speaker, was equally direct. In an Instagram post, she wrote: “I have left the Wasserman Agency. I read Casey Wasserman’s correspondence in the Epstein files. I know what I know, and I am following my gut and my values. I will not participate in any business arrangement under his leadership. I also need to say this: I’m grateful to my agent, who I’ve known for almost 20 years and trust. Casey should resign. He should leave, so more people like me don’t have to. I am unclear of my next steps. That’s OK with me, I just know where I can’t be.”
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Orville Peck, known for queering the country music landscape, also confirmed his departure. “In light of the recent findings regarding Casey Wasserman, I have made the decision to no longer be represented by the Wasserman talent agency.” He added, “I leave with a huge amount of compassion for the rest of the agents and staff at the agency, who are being left with a situation that impacts all of our work and livelihoods.”
Wasserman remains CEO of the agency and continues to serve as chairman of the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite public calls for his resignation. Whether more clients will follow remains to be seen.
