Pressure is mounting on Casey Wasserman, the president of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic organizing committee, following the recent publication of emails revealing correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former companion of the late Jeffrey Epstein, who is imprisoned for aiding in the financier’s recruitment of underage prostitutes.
The fallout continued Monday, February 9, when singer Chappell Roan, a rising star in the U.S., ended her relationship with Wasserman, the agency through which he represents a multitude of musical stars – including Pharrell Williams, Coldplay, and Imagine Dragons.
“No artist, agent, or employee should be put in a position to defend or turn a blind eye to acts that are deeply inconsistent with our moral values,” the pop star stated, without directly referencing the Epstein case. Other, lesser-known artists have also left Wasserman in recent days. According to the Hollywood Reporter, other stars are considering cutting ties, and employees are reportedly exploring a buyout to rebrand the company.
Grande influence
While not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, Wasserman released a statement expressing his “deep” regret over the 2003 correspondence with Maxwell, three years before the financier’s first arrest. He faces no legal action, but the emails – in which he described dreaming of seeing her in a “tight leather outfit” while married – have weakened his position. The situation highlights the potential for past associations to resurface and impact current leadership roles.
Wasserman was among a group of entertainment figures, including actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker, who accompanied former President Bill Clinton on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet for a philanthropic trip to Africa in 2002. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times on February 8, he affirmed that it was the only time he had met Epstein. “After that trip, where I saw nothing inappropriate, I never spoke to him again, never saw him again, and never communicated with him again,” he said.
But the reputation of the 51-year-old businessman, who wields significant influence in sports, film, music, and politics, is increasingly tarnished. Recent reports unearthed a 2024 tabloid article accusing him of being a “serial philanderer” who had relationships with multiple employees.
Last week, several Los Angeles city officials called for his resignation as head of the upcoming Summer Games. “The fact that he represents us on the international stage distracts from our athletes and the considerable efforts needed to prepare for 2028,” said one of them, Janice Hahn.
During a visit to the Winter Olympics in Milan, the Los Angeles delegation kept a low profile, and Wasserman did not take questions. He did, however, receive the support of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). “Casey has made a statement that reflects his point of view (…) We have nothing to add to that. His statement speaks for itself,” said USOPC President Gene Sykes, also a Los Angeles resident.
Des enjeux financiers colossaux
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also refuses to be drawn into the controversy, just two years before Games crucial for a metropolis recently hit by deadly wildfires and anti-immigrant crackdowns ordered by Donald Trump. For the Democrat, the question of whether Wasserman should remain in his position is a matter for the LA 2028 board of directors alone.
That body, which steers the Olympic organizing committee, is composed of around thirty figures, many of whom are friends of Wasserman or his family – his father, Lew Wasserman, was a film mogul and formerly headed Universal Studios.
A rebuke appears unlikely. Especially since Wasserman has established himself as a key liaison to the Trump administration and has been involved for more than ten years in the preparation of these Games, which carry enormous financial stakes.
As in 1984, Los Angeles has opted for Games largely funded by the private sector. The LA 2028 budget, estimated at around $7 billion, is expected to be funded by $2.5 billion from sponsors. If the organization fails to self-finance, California taxpayers risk covering several hundred million dollars of the bill.
Earlier this month, Wasserman announced he had already secured more than $2 billion in various sponsorships. And despite the controversy surrounding him for the past ten days, none of the major groups involved – Google, Uber, Starbucks, Honda, etc. – have reacted or indicated any intention of withdrawing.
