Ari Emanuel is an entertainment executive. He is executive chair and chief executive officer of TKO Group Holdings and executive chairman of WME Group, and he founded the events and experiences company MARI. He was chief executive officer of Endeavor from 2017 to 2025.
Case
After Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks at MetLife, the tour promoter said upcoming venues would not allow him on the lineup and he would miss remaining U.S. dates. Macklemore attributed the outcome to venue pressure; Robert Kraft confirmed barring him from Gillette Stadium.
Role at the time: Executive chair and chief executive officer of TKO Group Holdings and executive chairman of WME Group, in an interview on The Daily Show
Statement summary
Ari Emanuel, asked by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show whether what Macklemore said on stage was hate, said he did not think it was completely understanding the facts and that it was belittling to Jewish people.
“I don't think it was completely understanding the facts. And I think it was belittling to Jewish people, too.”
The case looks at Macklemore's speech at MetLife Stadium and the response to it. Asked whether what Macklemore said on stage was hate, Emanuel said it was not completely understanding the facts and was belittling to Jewish people. That is a direct criticism of what Macklemore said, so we labeled it Condemned rather than Challenged the characterization.
Statement dates: September 21, 2026
Statement dates: September 21, 2026
Statement dates: September 21, 2026
