LA Olympics leader Wasserman will sell talent agency in wake of Epstein emails discovery

Casey Wasserman, chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, has announced plans to sell his influential talent agency following revelations about his past communications with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein.

The decision comes after government files related to Epstein were recently released, which included email exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell from 2003. These communications have sparked controversy despite Wasserman not being accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein’s crimes.

In a memo distributed to staff Friday evening, Wasserman acknowledged that the situation had become a distraction to the company’s operations. “During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” he stated.

The Wasserman agency represents some of the most prominent pop music artists globally, but the revelations have already led to client departures. Singer Chappell Roan and former U.S. women’s soccer star Abby Wambach are among those who have severed ties with the agency following the disclosure of the emails.

The LA28 Olympic organizing committee’s executive board met earlier this week to assess Wasserman’s position after his name appeared in the Epstein files. Following a review conducted with the assistance of an external legal firm, the committee determined that Wasserman should continue in his role leading the Olympic preparations.

“We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented,” the committee said in its statement, adding that he “should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games.”

Wasserman has previously acknowledged that he flew on Epstein’s private plane for a humanitarian mission to Africa in 2002, at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation. This was years before Epstein and Maxwell’s criminal activities became public knowledge.

Among the exchanges revealed in the documents was a message from Wasserman to Maxwell saying, “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” Such flirtatious communications have contributed to the controversy surrounding his involvement.

In his memo to staff, Wasserman expressed regret over the emails and emphasized that his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein were limited. “It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending,” he wrote, adding that he was “heartbroken” that his “brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks.”

The Wasserman agency has been a powerhouse in the entertainment and sports representation industry, with the eponymous firm reflecting Casey Wasserman’s substantial influence in both Hollywood and the sports world. The impending sale represents a significant shift in the talent agency landscape.

For the LA28 Olympic Games, which represent a major international showcase for Los Angeles, Wasserman’s continued leadership suggests the organizing committee remains confident in his ability to oversee preparations despite the controversy. The Olympics, returning to Los Angeles for the first time since 1984, are expected to have substantial economic and cultural impacts on the region.

The sale process for the agency is now underway, though details about potential buyers or the timeline for completion have not yet been disclosed.