Cassey Wasserman has told employees at the Wasserman sport, music and entertainment agency that he has begun the process to sell the company.
It follows the US Department of Justice’s release of documents as part of the latest batch of the Epstein files. Wasserman has said he “deeply regrets” the 2003 emails to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell – who has since been jailed for child sex trafficking.
The agency founder and CEO has previously said that he flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane on a humanitarian mission to Africa at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation in 2002.
Wasserman’s memo to staff comes in the wake of multiple clients, including Chappell Roan, announcing their departure from the major agency. Many others were also said to be considering cutting ties prior to Wasserman’s email to staff.
"I'm deeply sorry that my past personal mistakes have caused you so much discomfort," Wasserman wrote to the agency's 4,000 employees.
"It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to the clients and partners we represent so vigorously and care so deeply about."
He said his email exchanges with Maxwell "took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light".
We believe deeply in the strength of the company and have full confidence in Mike and the leadership team, as well as in the exceptional employees
Providence Equity
As Casey Wasserman steps aside, president Mike Watts has been named as the company’s interim leader during the transition.
Providence Equity Partners became an investor in Wasserman in 2022 and now owns a majority of the firm.
Variety reported that, as Wasserman departs, Providence Equity will look to keep the company intact as it considers long-term options. That could include M&A possibilities to expand operations.
“We believe deeply in the strength of the company and have full confidence in Mike and the leadership team, as well as in the exceptional employees across the organisation,” Providence Equity said in a statement supplied to Music Week. “We remain fully committed to investing in its growth, expanding its capabilities across sports, music, and entertainment, and supporting the extraordinary talent, brands and properties the company is proud to represent.”
The flirtatious emails between Wasserman and Maxwell have also prompted calls for him to step down from the LA Olympics Committee, though he remains in post.
Wasserman has not been accused of any wrongdoing or inappropriate behaviour by any of Epstein’s victims, and the appearance of his name in the Epstein files does not imply criminal activity of any kind.
Music Week has reached out to the Wasserman agency for comment.
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