Fallout over the federal government's files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues in Hollywood after the CEO of a major talent agency was named in a recently released batch of documents.
Several musical artists have cut ties with sports and entertainment talent agency Wasserman after the files showed that its CEO, Casey Wasserman, corresponded with Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s.
After Best Coast singer Bethany Cosentino published a letter on Feb. 5 demanding Wasserman's resignation, several other high-profile artists, including Chappell Roan, announced they have cut ties with the agency. The band Beach Bunny also posted a statement to social media on Jan. 8, calling Wasserman's actions "abhorrent and disturbing on every level."
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"The position Casey Wasserman has put his agents in is inexcusable," Cosentino wrote in her initial letter.
Casey Wasserman said in a statement last month that he "never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein."
"I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light," he said, adding that "as is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them."
Wasserman, 51, is also a trustee of the Clinton Foundation and the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games organizing committee. Several Los Angeles city council members called on him to resign from the post, the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month. He has not been charged in the criminal cases against Epstein and Maxwell.
USA TODAY contacted the Wasserman agency for comment, but has not received a response.
Which musical artists split from Wasserman agency?
The Wasserman agency represents hundreds of clients across sports, music and entertainment. An artist roster list has been removed from the agency's website, but an archived page shows its clients include artists like Alex Warren, Blake Shelton, Ice Spice and dozens more.
So far, several of the agency's artists have announced they are splitting from Wasserman in light of the Epstein files, including:
Chappell Roan
"No artist, agent or employee should be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values," the Grammy winner said on her Instagram story on Monday, Feb. 9. "I have deep respect and appreciation for the agents and staff who work tirelessly for their artists and I refuse to stand by."
Dropkick Murphys
The band wrote in an Instagram story on Feb. 6: "We love our agents. They are great partners. We signed with them years before they merged with Wasserman."
"It saddens us to part ways with them, but the namesake of the agency is in the Epstein files, so... we GONE," the post continued.
Chelsea Cutler
The singer confirmed in a statement on Feb. 10 that the Wasserman agency is no longer representing her.
"While I am grateful for my day-to-day team at the agency, I cannot in good conscience be a complicit participant and remain silent witnessing these unethical actions," she wrote in a post on Instagram.
Hippo Campus
Hippo Campus said in a Feb. 10 Instagram story that it is leaving the Wasserman agency "immediately."
"Casey Wasserman in no way represents our band or our amazing agents, who have been with us from the start," the band's statement said. "We stand with all victims of abuse and our band will continue to strive for all spaces that we inhabit to be safe ones.
Wednesday
The rock band Wednesday called for Wasserman to step down from the company, adding that they are no longer working with the agency.
"Last week we were among the hundreds of artists who were aghast to find out about Casey Wasserman’s communications with Ghislaine Maxwell that were made public in the latest release of the Epstein files," the band's statement on Instagram said. "We find Casey’s attempts to deflect and dismiss this situation deeply troubling."
Contributing: James Powel and Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Artists join Chappell Roan in exiting Wasserman agency. See who left.
