Chappell Roan Cuts Ties With Wasserman After Epstein Files Name Founder Casey Wasserman

Singer cuts ties with agency

Singer Chappell Roan announced she cut ties with talent agency Wasserman after Department of Justice documents linked agency founder Casey Wasserman to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein.

Roan framed the move as protecting her staff and upholding moral standards, and said on Instagram she is 'no longer represented by Wasserman' and holds her teams 'to the highest standards.'

Multiple outlets, from Newsweek to Rolling Stone, report that Roan's departure is part of a broader reaction to the Jan. 30 release of DOJ files.

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Roan's stance on representation

Roan's public statement, quoted by multiple outlets, centers on protecting staff and refusing to tolerate representation that conflicts with her values. Business Insider records her line that "no artist, agent, or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values."

Entertainment Weekly notes she said she must "protect" her teams and will not tolerate representation that conflicts with her moral values. The Express Tribune and LA Times report Roan praised individual agents while distancing herself from leadership, saying she would not "passively stand by."

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Wasserman and Maxwell emails

Documents released by the Department of Justice include emails between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell from 2003. Some outlets described the exchanges as flirtatious or salacious, with Pollstar citing a 2003 message that asked, 'So what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?', and Stereogum and Rolling Stone calling the correspondence 'salacious' and 'past correspondence' for which Wasserman has apologized. Wasserman denied any personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, said the exchanges occurred 'over two decades ago,' and characterized a 2002 flight on Epstein's plane as part of a Clinton Foundation delegation during which he did not witness anything inappropriate.

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Calls for leadership change

The agency is already facing tangible fallout, with artists and staff protesting or leaving and public calls for accountability and for Wasserman to step down from leadership roles. Pollstar, Rolling Stone Australia, and Feminegra document multiple departures and public demands, citing Bethany Cosentino's open letter and named artist exits including Wednesday and Sylvan Esso. The Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone note local officials and some Los Angeles politicians urging Wasserman to resign as LA28 Olympics chair, while outlets differ on whether the Olympics committee continues to support him amid public pressure.

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Wasserman agency uncertainty

Industry sources and analysis suggest multiple outcomes for Wasserman and the agency, but coverage stresses uncertainty. Rolling Stone outlines possible scenarios: agents splitting to start a new shop, artists defecting, Wasserman resigning and rebranding, or a sale.

Pollstar emphasizes that many artists feel loyalty to individual agents rather than the company, which would complicate defections. The Journal and Newsweek caution that appearing in the released documents does not itself imply criminal activity, underscoring legal ambiguity as outlets report developing coverage and ongoing internal talks at the agency.

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