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Casey Wasserman puts high-profile talent agency up for sale amid outcry over Epstein ties

A  man in glasses and a hoodie speaks at a table behind a microphone. Lettering behind him reads "LA28."
LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman speaks during a press conference June 5, 2025.
(
Federic J. Brown
/
Getty Images
)

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Topline:

Casey Wasserman, the embattled businessman and head of the organizing body that's bringing the Olympics to L.A., is putting his namesake talent agency up for sale.

Why it matters: Wasserman has been under fire for racy emails he exchanged decades ago with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted sex trafficker and the ex-girlfriend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails were made public as part of the release of millions of documents related to Epstein by the Justice Department in January.

Why now: In a memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Wasserman told his staff that he had "become a distraction" to the work of the high-profile talent agency that he founded more than two decades ago.

In recent days, a number of artists — including musician Chappell Roan — have said they are cutting ties with the Wasserman agency.

Background: Critics have also called for Wasserman to resign as head of LA28, the nonprofit and organizing body behind the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Earlier this week, the board of LA28 expressed support for Wasserman.

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