Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino calls for Casey Wasserman to resign from music agency over Epstein files
Best Coast singer Bethany Cosentino has called for Wasserman Music’s CEO, Casey Wasserman, to resign after he was named in the Epstein files.
Last week, the Department of Justice released more than three million files in relation to their investigation into the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, which included communications between Wasserman and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, which began in 2022, for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors.
In one email to Maxwell, Wasserman wrote, “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”
In another, dated April 1st, 2003, Wasserman said to Maxwell, “Where are you, I miss you. I will be in nyc for 4 days starting april 22…can we book that massage now?”
Wasserman, who is also the chair of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, is not accused of any criminal wrongdoing, but has faced down to step down from his position on the committee.
Earlier this week, he apologised for his communication with Maxwell, stating, “I deeply regret my correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell which took place over two decades ago, long before her horrific crimes came to light.”
He added, “I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”
Now, Cosentino, who is represented by Wasserman Music, has led the calls for him to resign from his role as CEO of the agency.
In an open letter, published on Instagram, she wrote, “As an artist represented by Wasserman, I did not consent to having my name or my career tied to someone with this kind of association to exploitation.”
Cosentino continued, “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. Pretending this isn’t a big deal is not an option for me.”
In reference to Wasserman’s apology, Cosentino said, “Regret without accountability is just damage control — an attempt to move on while the rest of us are expected to sit with the discomfort of our careers being publicly tied to him.”
Speaking on behalf of artists, Cosentino wrote they are collectively “tired of swallowing scandals”, and “being asked to treat proximity to something horrific as an unfortunate situation we should simply move past — especially when the person involved still holds all the power”.
Cosentino also revealed she has asked for her name and Best Coast to be removed from the Wasserman website, before adding, “This is a call for him to step down and a change of business name be imminent.”
Wasserman represents many of the biggest artists in the music industry, including Coldplay, Kendrick Lamar, Katseye, My Chemical Romance, Sleep Token, Tyler, the Creator and The xx.
Best Coast and Bethany Cosentino are no longer listed on Wasserman’s website.
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