Several high-profile artists, including Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino and Chappell Roan, are leaving Wasserman Agency following revelations about founder-CEO Casey Wasserman's connection to late financier and convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The situation has reached a fever pitch, with the executives rallying together in an effort to maintain a unified company. The agents have presented Wasserman with an ultimatum: step down and divest or sell the company, which he has declined so far. However, he is set to meet with top executives later this week to determine a course of action.
The agency's roster includes prominent names like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Phish, Raye, SZA, Joni Mitchell, Janelle Monae, Geese, and Cameron Winter, among many others. However, the situation is more complicated for agents, who are bound by contracts that typically span three to five years, whereas artists are not.
The move comes after a damning report emerged in July 2024, accusing Wasserman of having "serial" affairs with junior employees over several years. Although Billie Eilish was already leaving the agency at the time, multiple sources suggest she departed due to the report. The current scandal has raised optics concerns for the company, particularly given its founder's name.
The artists' statements convey a sense of moral obligation and outrage, emphasizing the need to stand against exploitation and protect their own careers. As one artist said, "Staying quiet isn't something I can do in good conscience - especially in a moment when men in power are so often protected, excused, or allowed to move on without consequence."
The fate of Wasserman Agency remains uncertain as executives navigate the complex situation. With several offers made for the company and proposals to buy the division themselves, it is unclear how serious or realistic these plans are. As Variety continues to monitor the situation, one thing is certain: the repercussions will be far-reaching.
The situation has reached a fever pitch, with the executives rallying together in an effort to maintain a unified company. The agents have presented Wasserman with an ultimatum: step down and divest or sell the company, which he has declined so far. However, he is set to meet with top executives later this week to determine a course of action.
The agency's roster includes prominent names like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Phish, Raye, SZA, Joni Mitchell, Janelle Monae, Geese, and Cameron Winter, among many others. However, the situation is more complicated for agents, who are bound by contracts that typically span three to five years, whereas artists are not.
The move comes after a damning report emerged in July 2024, accusing Wasserman of having "serial" affairs with junior employees over several years. Although Billie Eilish was already leaving the agency at the time, multiple sources suggest she departed due to the report. The current scandal has raised optics concerns for the company, particularly given its founder's name.
The artists' statements convey a sense of moral obligation and outrage, emphasizing the need to stand against exploitation and protect their own careers. As one artist said, "Staying quiet isn't something I can do in good conscience - especially in a moment when men in power are so often protected, excused, or allowed to move on without consequence."
The fate of Wasserman Agency remains uncertain as executives navigate the complex situation. With several offers made for the company and proposals to buy the division themselves, it is unclear how serious or realistic these plans are. As Variety continues to monitor the situation, one thing is certain: the repercussions will be far-reaching.
. I mean, I get that everyone's got their own story, but if someone's been involved in something shady like that, they gotta be held accountable 
. It's not fair to the people who are still left working for Wasserman Agency or trying to make it as artists themselves. And honestly, I'm a bit disappointed that some of these big-name artists didn't speak out sooner 
. But hey, at least now the spotlight is on it and maybe things will change for the better 
.
bethany cosentino and chappell roan leaving wasserman agency? like, i need to talk to them about this ASAP!! 
casey wasserman has got some serious 'splainin' to do with his ties to Ghislaine maxwell... like, what kind of dude is he?! 
i'm all for the artists standing up against exploitation and protecting their careers, but seriously, how did this guy get away with it for so long?! 
i'm low-key invested in wasserman agency's future, tbh... fingers crossed they sell or divest ASAP! 
... i mean, who needs some powerful dude like that around? 
artists are already dealing with enough drama and pressure in their careers, let alone having to worry about getting taken advantage of by someone in a position of power 
... it's about time we prioritize our own well-being and safety over some dude's ego or career 
especially when there are so many talented people out there who deserve to be heard and respected 
. Anyway, I'm loving the fact that all these artists are standing together against exploitation - it's about time someone spoke out! 
The way it went down, with all the allegations against Casey Wasserman, is pretty messed up 
Anywayz, I'm all about the artists speaking out against this bs 
It's gonna be wild to see how this all plays out, especially with the optics of the company's name being Wasserman... I mean, it's time for a major brand refresh 
Wasserman's been playing both sides for too long, it's time to move on 
. Casey Wasserman's been dodging this bullet for far too long, and it's only right he steps down or gets sold ASAP. The fact that he's still trying to negotiate is just laughable - the man needs to be held accountable for his actions 
. And can we talk about how convenient it was for Billie Eilish to bail out of the agency when she did? That girl always had a plan 
...
... I get it, you wanna protect yourselves, but can't you just talk to each other? 
It's like, we're living in a time where everyone's so quick to jump on the bandwagon and cancel someone, but what about having some actual conversations about the issues? 
meanwhile ed shearan and coldplay are still working with him like nothing's wrong? what's good for the goose ain't good for the gander 
I'm not surprised tbh. The rumors about Casey Wasserman's connections had been circulating for ages. It's crazy how his personal life just kept popping up in everyone else's contracts 
. The thing is, who's gonna take on all these powerful artists? It's not like they're going to magically start working with anyone new after being burned by Wasserman's dealings 
and now wasserman is making them face this drama? they're like "do we stay or do we go?" its so stressful for everyone involved 
. I get where they're coming from - it's not right that some people in power are protected or excused from consequences 
. It's not just about Bethany Cosentino and Chappell Roan, it's about all the other artists who might've been affected by Wasserman's actions 
. I hope they get some serious support and protection from each other - they deserve it 
. This whole situation is a total mess 
. I'm all for the artists standing up for themselves and against exploitation, though - we need more people speaking out about these issues. Maybe it'll inspire change and lead to a new era of transparency in the industry... fingers crossed 
.
...also feeling bad 4 Billie Eilish 4 leaving, she was only trying 2 speak out against exploitation 
. artists are always saying they're doing it for the art and the music but honestly sometimes its about the benjamins 