A New Drama Unfolds in Los Angeles Amidst Olympic Preparations

In a captivating twist for Los Angeles, a new antagonist has emerged—notably, it’s not Casey Wasserman himself.

Rumors surfaced that some LA28 board members are quite upset with Jeffrey Katzenberg, accusing him of causing a significant embarrassment as preparations for the Summer Olympics continue.

“He was the one who got everyone together to defend Casey,” a source shared.

On February 11, the board publicly backed Wasserman following an internal probe into his connections with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Their conclusion? Wasserman’s actions “did not exceed what has already been made public.” They remained loyal to their own.

Just two days later, Wasserman called the Epstein-related controversy a “distraction” and announced he was selling his namesake agency. Board members felt blindsided by Katzenberg’s remarks, attributing the “poor optics” of the situation to him, according to insiders.

“How can you say there’s no disruption to the Olympics while simultaneously drawing attention away from the music industry?” questioned an individual familiar with the board’s discussions.

Yet, another source disputed the notion of Katzenberg being the mastermind, pointing out that he only participated in the February 11 video call to cast his vote. The voting was unanimous for Wasserman’s retention, with members like Jessica Alba and Jeanie Buss firmly supporting him.

Over the last year and a half, Katzenberg has exhibited a talent for navigating tricky political waters. As co-chair of Joe Biden‘s campaign for the upcoming presidential election, he faced backlash for not recognizing the seriousness of Biden’s cognitive challenges until it was too late. He had even assured wealthy supporters that Biden deserved another term—an outcome most are now familiar with.

Alongside Katzenberg on the LA28 board is Matt Johnson, who endorsed Karen Bass over Rick Caruso in the last mayoral race. Despite some backing for Wasserman, donors have hinted at buyer’s remorse, viewing his support as a final betrayal.

“This is strike three,” voiced an insider.

Sources indicate that following the revelations of Wasserman’s alleged affair last August, he assured the LA28 board he had “no other secrets.” However, when the Epstein files resurfaced on January 30, it added yet another layer of problematic PR for him. Meanwhile, Katzenberg remained steadfast in his loyalty, even as some artists distanced themselves from Wasserman’s agency.

Interestingly, Katzenberg has a long-standing friendship with Wasserman’s grandfather, Lou Wasserman.

While the buzz swirls, Bass recently urged Wasserman to resign during a CNN interview.

Though Wasserman seems to be hoping for the best—at least for now—talks are already happening about potential replacements. Names like Bob Iger, who is set to reduce his role at Disney, and others like Eric Garcetti or Kevin McCarthy have come up. Garcetti noted that this role could serve as a stepping stone for a future career post-Olympics.

Interestingly, another rumor has emerged suggesting Donald Trump Jr. might involve himself, but insiders view this as improbable, mentioning that he isn’t even familiar with Wasserman.

Amid this PR whirlwind, Wasserman appears unfazed and has told friends he isn’t particularly concerned, even with numerous critics.

Ironically, Ari Emanuel has suggested that Wasserman’s PR struggles are due to rival agents, although that doesn’t seem to fit in this scenario. On Location, part of Emanuel’s TKO Group Holdings, remains the official hospitality provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. At present, TKO has no intentions of leaving, unlike many artists who have already severed ties with Wasserman.

Representatives for both Katzenberg and Wasserman have yet to provide comments.