The 2028 Summer Olympics chairman faces scrutiny amid scandal
A storm brews over Los Angeles
The chairman of the 2028 Summer Olympics is under intense scrutiny, and it’s not just because of the giant torch that recently arrived in Los Angeles from Paris. The spotlight is on Casey Wasserman, the grandson of the legendary Hollywood dealmaker Lew Wasserman. A recent tabloid report has accused him of having multiple affairs with junior employees over many years, causing a stir among stars, political figures, and industry insiders as the Paris games concluded and L.A. took the baton.
The fallout begins
The most significant repercussion for Wasserman is the departure of Billie Eilish, a superstar client who left his agency on Tuesday. The “Birds of a Feather” singer and her brother Finneas have now signed with competitor WME. This move has sent shockwaves through the industry, given Wasserman’s reputation for managing high-profile clients like Kendrick Lamar and Chappell Roan, as well as athletes such as Megan Rapinoe and Russell Westbrook.
The scandal unfolds
The tabloid report, published on August 1, labeled Wasserman a “serial cheater,” naming former and current employees he allegedly had relationships with. The report also highlighted his role in shaping the careers of Eilish and bands like Coldplay. Eilish and her team were reportedly “horrified” by their inclusion in the story, prompting her swift exit from Wasserman’s agency.
Eilish had minimal personal interaction with Wasserman, having been represented by Tom Windish, an agent in the music department at the now-defunct Paradigm talent agency, which Wasserman acquired and rebranded in 2021. The star and her advisors had no desire to remain associated with the agency after the report.
“While grateful to their former live booking agents at Wasserman, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell have opted to have film, TV, and music handled by the same agency, WME, moving forward,” a spokesperson for Eilish stated. Wasserman has not commented on the matter.
Complications and consequences
Eilish and her team wanted to leave Wasserman’s client roster immediately following the tabloid report, but her involvement in the closing ceremony for the Paris Olympics complicated matters. Wasserman’s agency represented her, and she had been recruited for a star-studded performance alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg for NBC’s closing broadcast. In a “handover segment,” cameras cut from Paris to the prerecorded musical acts on the shores of Long Beach, California. Two days after Eilish’s performance aired, WME took over her representation.
Internal turmoil at LA28
Several sources within the LA28 organization, a nonprofit, were troubled by the optics of the tabloid report. The story specifically named Patricia Feau, a former assistant to NBCUniversal executive Ron Meyer who later ran Wasserman’s office, as one of the employees who allegedly had an affair with him. Feau denied the affair and spent almost eight years working for Wasserman before being named Vice President of Host City Relations for LA28 in 2019.
Feau, a native of Inglewood, California, volunteered during L.A.’s Olympic bidding process. After the city won the bid, she and two other Wasserman employees were hired as full-time LA28 staffers. Compensation for all three was reviewed by an independent consultant and approved by the LA28 Board of Directors.
A spokesperson for LA28 confirmed that the organization would not be conducting an internal investigation over the tabloid report.
A carefully curated public profile
Despite his decades among the L.A.-based elite, Wasserman has maintained a carefully curated public profile. A supporter of the Democratic party like his grandfather, Wasserman was more likely to be seen on David Geffen’s yacht, The Rising Sun, than on any red carpet. He recently parted ways with his communications advisor of almost 20 years, who resigned in May.
Wasserman has been especially visible this year. His appearance at the Met Gala in May, which cost around $750,000 for a table, secured a spot for Wasserman and his girlfriend Jenny Chandler to mingle with models, movie stars, and Anna Wintour. Wasserman’s recent 50th birthday, a lavish bash at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, was widely covered for its extravagance, including a re-creation of the landmark Beverly Hills deli Nate ‘n Al’s, renamed “Lew ‘n Casey” for the occasion. Wasserman client Imagine Dragons performed, and notable guests like Bob Iger, Bill Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi attended the celebration.
Links to trailers and music
For those interested in exploring more about the mentioned artists and their works, here are some direct links:
For music enthusiasts, you can listen to their albums and songs on Spotify:
This scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Wasserman’s career and the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics. As the story continues to unfold, the industry watches closely, waiting to see how it will impact the future of the games and Wasserman’s legacy.