Singer Chappell Roan says she has left the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman, whose name appears in the Epstein files.
Announcing her split with the agency, Roan said she has a duty to protect her team and her decision reflected her belief that meaningful change in our industry requires accountability.
Wasserman has been criticised after his flirtatious emails to Ghislaine Maxwell were revealed among the millions of files published in relation to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Roan made no mention of Epstein, nor the Epstein files, in her statement on Instagram announcing her departure.
As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman, she said. Roan added: No artist, agent or employee should ever be expected to defend or overlook actions that conflict so deeply with our own moral values.
The BBC has reached out to Wasserman for comment. Wasserman has said he deeply regrets the emails exchanged with Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. He stated that his correspondence with Maxwell took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light and emphasized that he had never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Roan's announcement comes after two other bands represented by Wasserman released statements indicating they wanted to distance themselves from his agency. Wednesday, a self-described indie rock band, said they were aghast to see Wasserman feature in the Epstein files and did not want to continue to be associated with him. Rock band Beach Bunny expressed they were hugely disappointed and disgusted that Wasserman had involvement with Ghislaine Maxwell.
