Weyes Blood and Orville Peck Leave Wasserman Agency Amid Epstein Scandal
Renowned artists Weyes Blood and Orville Peck have announced their decision to end their collaboration with the major music agency Wasserman, which became embroiled in a scandal related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case. The decision followed the release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice, which included old emails between the agency’s founder, Casey Wasserman, and Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of participating in crimes against minors.
According to the artists, their personal agents remain professionals, but continuing to work with an agency whose reputation is questioned is impossible. Weyes Blood emphasized that her values are completely at odds with the actions of Wasserman’s management, while Orville Peck noted that his decision was influenced by the impact of the situation on his creative work. Several other performers have already followed suit, expressing dissatisfaction or fully ending their cooperation with the agency.
Among those who publicly left Wasserman are Chappell Roan, Chelsea Cutler, Local Natives, Water From Your Eyes, Sylvan Esso, bbno$, John Summit, Hot Mulligan, Dropkick Murphys, and Best Coast. Artists point out that they continue to respect their personal agents but are unwilling to associate with a corporate brand now at the center of a major scandal.
Casey Wasserman is not facing criminal charges and stated that the correspondence with Maxwell dates back over twenty years and had no connection to Epstein’s criminal activities. At the same time, he acknowledged that the situation negatively affects the agency and announced the process of selling the company to minimize reputational risks for clients. Nevertheless, Wasserman remains chairman of the organization involved in preparing the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The scandal around Wasserman has become a high-profile event in the music industry, triggering an active exodus of artists, highlighting the importance of transparency and reputation for major media companies. Music experts note that such high-profile cases can not only affect a brand’s image but also set a precedent for the entire industry, where ethics and social responsibility come first.
