Casey Wasserman to sell talent agency, stay on L.A. Olympic Committee - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by August Brown

February 14, 2026

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Casey Wasserman, a prominent sports and entertainment executive best known as the face of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, has decided to sell his talent agency following a scandal involving controversial emails he exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell over two decades ago. In a memo to his staff, Wasserman acknowledged that these emails from his brief encounter with Maxwell, who is now serving time for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, had become a significant distraction for both him and his company. Despite the turmoil, Wasserman will remain as leader of the LA28 Olympic Committee, which has publicly supported him, citing his past humanitarian efforts and leadership. The controversy began when a trove of DOJ-released documents revealed explicit messages between Wasserman and Maxwell, who was at the time Epstein’s companion. In one exchange, Wasserman wrote about initiating a massage session in her bed, to which Maxwell responded with playful yet suggestive comments. These messages resurfaced after Wasserman’s agency faced growing criticism from clients, including high-profile figures like soccer star Abby Wambach and artist Chappell Roan, who announced their departures from the agency. Many expressed discomfort with Wasserman’s continued leadership, as seen in Wambach’s Instagram statement: “He should leave, so more people like me don’t have to.” Wasserman has apologized for his past actions, emphasizing that these encounters occurred years before Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes became public knowledge. He also clarified that he had no business relationship with Epstein, only a single humanitarian trip on the Epstein plane in 2002 as part of a Clinton Foundation delegation. While Wasserman will step back from managing his agency, Mike Watts, a longtime executive, will take over day-to-day operations as Wasserman focuses on selling the company. Despite the scandal, the LA28 board has reaffirmed its confidence in him, stating that his leadership remains critical to delivering safe and successful Games. This situation highlights the challenges of navigating past missteps in high-profile careers, particularly in industries where public perception is crucial. For Wasserman, staying attached to the Olympics provides a platform to redeem himself while continuing his business transition. The incident also underscores the growing scrutiny faced by influential figures, especially those linked to controversial individuals

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/14/2026