Chappell Roan Rids Herself Of Epstein Connection By Proxy

Chappell Roan has joined the growing number of artists distancing themselves from Casey Wasserman.

The founder and CEO of Wasserman, a sports marketing and talent agency, was named in the most recent batch of files and documents from the Epstein files.

Some of the artists under Casey Wasserman's agency began cutting ties with him after his flirtatious ties to Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking accomplice, were revealed. Chappell Roan is the latest to end her collaboration with the talent agency.

On February 9, Roan updated her Instagram Story with a statement announcing the end of her relationship with Wasserman's agency. Although she did not mention the CEO's connection to the Epstein files, her words hinted that she was leaving because of the recently released documents.

"As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman," Roan began. "I hold my teams to the highest standards and have a duty to protect them as well," she continued, stressing that:

"No artist, agent, or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values."

Roan added that she had "deep respect and appreciation for the agents and staff who work tirelessly for their artists." On that note, she could not "passively stand by" because all artists are entitled to representation that aligns "with their values and supports their safety and dignity."

Roan concluded her statement by doubling down on her decision to leave Wasserman's agency. She emphasized that she chose to do so because leaving reflected her "belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability and leadership that earns trust."

While Roan only hinted at Wasserman's link to the Epstein files in her announcement, other artists tied to the agency did not mind calling out the CEO directly. A good example is Bethany Cosentino, the frontwoman of rock duo Best Coast.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cosentino penned an open letter on February 6 calling for Wasserman's resignation. "The position Casey Wasserman has put his agents in is inexcusable," Cosentino argued, noting Wasserman needed to take responsibility by stepping down.

Similar to Roan's reasons for leaving, singer Chelsea Cutler confirmed that she had left Wasserman's agency because his connection with Epstein and Maxwell did not align with her beliefs."It simply feels incongruent with my values to not speak up or take action," she shared.

The Beach Bunny band led by singer Lili Trifilio echoed similar sentiments in a February 8 post, demanding for Wasserman's resignation. The group also asked for the agency's name to be changed, a view the Wednesday band shared in a post slamming Wasserman.

The band stressed that they did not wish to be represented by an agency led by Wasserman or one named after him because it went against their values. Sources told the outlet that these artists may not be the last, as many more talents under the Wasserman agency were considering cutting ties with the organization.

Wasserman's ties to Epstein and Maxwell became known earlier this month after the U.S. Department of Justice released new documents from the Epstein files. Part of these documents included flirtatious emails between Wasserman and Maxwell.

A March 2003 exchange between the pair captured Wasserman's longing for a bedroom session with Maxwell. "I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?" he wrote, per USA Today.

Wasserman has since denied having a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, claiming he deeply regretted ever having any correspondence with Maxwell and the late sex offender. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in 2019, while Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Roan's decision to leave Wasserman's agency may not come as a surprise to fans, given her outspoken nature. During the 2024 presidential election, Variety reported that she refused to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump because she found both sides problematic.

Nonetheless, Roan finally decided to vote for Harris while slamming the Democratic Party for their wrongs. That same year, The Blast shared that the singer had threatened to quit making music if fame ever endangered her life. The thought crossed her mind after meeting two hostile men.

Roan explained that when she arrived at the airport around 5:30 am, two men were waiting for her, wanting her signature on posters. When she refused, they began following and berating her, warning her to humble herself and not forget where she came from.