Casey Wasserman Puts Agency Up for Sale as Epstein Files Fallout Triggers Artist Exodus and Succession Questions

Casey Wasserman, one of the most powerful figures in entertainment and sports management, announced late Friday that he is selling the agency he founded more than two decades ago — a dramatic concession to weeks of mounting pressure triggered by the release of the Epstein files .

In an internal memo obtained by multiple outlets, Wasserman told staff he had "become a distraction" to the company and that the sale process was "already underway" . He named company president Mike Watts as interim leader and said he would devote his full attention to delivering the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, for which he serves as chairman of the LA28 organizing committee .

The Epstein Files Connection

The crisis stems from the Justice Department's release of documents showing that Wasserman had an intimate relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003, years before she was convicted of sex trafficking through her long association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein . While the correspondence was consensual and predated Maxwell's criminal charges, the revelations set off a chain reaction across Wasserman's business empire.

Wasserman has maintained that his relationship with Maxwell "did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented," a characterization the LA28 board endorsed after conducting its own review . Critics, however, argue that any personal ties to Maxwell's circle warrant greater accountability, particularly for someone stewarding a public event of the Olympics' magnitude.

The Artist Revolt

The fallout was immediate and commercially devastating. Grammy-winning pop star Chappell Roan led the exodus on February 10, posting on Instagram: "No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values. I refuse to passively stand by" .

She was followed by country artist Orville Peck, rock band Wednesday, indie group Best Coast, and electronic DJ John Summit, all of whom either departed or issued ultimatums demanding Wasserman step down . The departures represented a cross-section of the agency's music roster and signaled that the controversy had moved beyond political posturing into genuine commercial risk.

Some agents within the company had already been publicly discussing whether to move to other organizations or attempt to purchase parts of the Providence Equity-backed firm themselves, according to reporting by Deadline .

Providence Equity's Stabilization Play

Providence Equity Partners, the Rhode Island-based private equity firm that took a majority stake in Wasserman in late 2022, moved quickly to reassure clients and staff. In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday, a Providence spokesperson said the firm "believes deeply in the strength of the Company and has full confidence in Mike and the leadership team" .

The firm pledged to continue "investing in its growth, expanding its capabilities across sports, music, and entertainment" and signaled openness to mergers and acquisitions to strengthen the agency's position . Industry observers interpret this as Providence's attempt to prevent further client and talent defections by projecting stability during what could be a lengthy sale process.

The strategy carries significant risk. Talent agencies derive their value almost entirely from relationships — with artists, brands, and venues. A protracted ownership transition could accelerate departures, particularly if rival agencies like CAA, WME, and UTA aggressively recruit Wasserman's remaining roster.

The LA28 Question

Perhaps the most consequential unanswered question is whether Wasserman can retain his role as LA28 chairman. The Olympics organizing committee's executive board issued a statement of support on Wednesday, saying it had reviewed Wasserman's Epstein-related disclosures and found nothing beyond what was publicly known .

But that endorsement faces growing opposition from Los Angeles elected officials. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who serves on a committee overseeing the Olympics, pushed back on the board's decision. She was among several council members who called for Wasserman to resign from his Olympics post, arguing that the position demands a higher standard of public trust.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been mentioned as a potential replacement, according to Deadline, though no formal succession process has begun. The IOC has not publicly commented on the situation.

What Comes Next

The sale of Wasserman — which encompasses management powerhouse Brillstein Entertainment Partners and significant sports marketing operations — would rank among the most consequential agency transactions in recent years. Potential buyers could include rival agencies, private equity firms, or media conglomerates looking to expand into talent representation.

For the broader entertainment industry, the episode underscores how the Epstein files continue to reshape the landscape of power in Hollywood, sports, and politics. The documents have already prompted investigations, resignations, and reputational crises across multiple sectors, and Casey Wasserman's decision to sell suggests that even figures with indirect connections to the Epstein circle now face career-defining consequences.

Whether Providence can hold the agency together long enough to find a buyer — and whether Wasserman can survive as LA28 chairman — will likely be determined in the coming weeks as the sale process unfolds and political pressure continues to build.