> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Frieze Owner Ari Emanuel Criticizes Macklemore Over Pro-Palestinian Comments - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/frieze-owner-ari-emanuel-criticizes-macklemore-over-pro-palestinian-comments/ - Published: 2026-09-23T19:41:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-23T19:56:25.000Z - Description: The Hollywood billionaire also objected to using the term "genocide" to describe Israel's actions in Palestine. - Author: Anna Lee - Tags: News, Gaza, West Bank, Israel, Frieze Week, The Armory Show Hollywood mogul and Frieze owner Ari Emanuel objected to calling the actions of the Israeli military in the Occupied West Bank a genocide, criticized rapper Macklemore's pro-Palestinian remarks, and complimented Elon Musk for doing "incredible things for the human race" during an interview on the [*Daily Show*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctuvImgGpvE&ref=hyperallergic.com) on Monday, September 21\. The comments come days before the September 24 opening of New York’s Armory Show, which Frieze owns and effectively operates alongside six other fairs, two exhibition spaces, and its namesake publication. "I don't believe the word genocide is the proper word for what happened in the West Bank," Emanuel told host Jon Stewart without once making mention of Gaza, which a [United Nations commission](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/israel-has-committed-genocide-gaza-strip-un-commission-finds?ref=hyperallergic.com) declared as a site of genocide in 2025\. The billionaire went on to criticize Macklemore for making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage earlier this month while opening for British pop star Ed Sheeran, who subsequently axed the rapper from his global tour at the behest of billionaire Robert Kraft, who owns Boston’s Gillette Stadium, where Sheeran is set to perform on September 25 and 26. "I don't think it was completely understanding the facts," Emanuel said of Macklemore's speech. "I think it was belittling to Jewish people." Emanuel did not mention that his company, WME, represents Macklemore for North American bookings. During his remarks, Macklemore strictly aimed his protests at the Israeli government, stating, "To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you." Through his company MARI, Emanuel acquired Frieze in 2025 for [$200 million](https://hyperallergic.com/frieze-new-york-is-back-to-its-old-ways/) from Endeavor Group Holdings, where he served as CEO from 2017 through 2025\. In 2023, Frieze acquired the Armory Show, which remains one of the [longest-running art fairs](https://www.frieze.com/article/frieze-acquires-armory-show-and-expo-chicago?ref=hyperallergic.com) in the United States. Emanuel appeared on thetalk showas part of his press tour for his new memoir, *Roll the Calls*, co-written by celebrity ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer. In the book, Emanuel traces his career as a Hollywood agent, channeling his "anger and rage" into his idea of a successful business model, and grappling with the achievements of his older brother, Rahm Emanuel, who is a longtime defender of Israel and acted as White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010\. Rahm Emanuel only recently turned critical of Israel's leadership, calling the state a "[territorial pariah](https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-war-gaza-rahm-emanuel-23de561fab908a4dec72f9df1d6add0e?ref=hyperallergic.com)" in a speech at Tel Aviv University in July. Like his brother, Emanuel has maintained a wishy-washy view on Israel's actions. While he condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a [2024 award speech](https://deadline.com/2024/05/ari-emanuel-netanyahu-must-go-1235927987/?ref=hyperallergic.com) at a Simon Wiesenthal Center gala, he called the popular pro-Palestinian liberation slogan "from the river to the sea" genocidal, and said that "Israel is not targeting civilians the way terrorists do." According to findings published by an independent [United Nations commission](https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167790?ref=hyperallergic.com) in June 2026, Israel has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians and deliberately targets children. During the interview, Emanuel also defended his friendship with tech billionaire Musk, who has [regularly met with Israeli leadership](https://www.trtworld.com/article/d3838c6630e2?ref=hyperallergic.com). "I think he's done incredible things for the human race and continues to do great, unbelievable things," Emanuel told Stewart. He added that when he disagrees with the Tesla CEO, he converses with Musk to "move" him. In *Roll the Calls*, Emanuel further defends his friendships with other right-leaning figures, like Dana White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). White hosted the infamous "UFC Freedom 250" event with President Donald Trump on the White House South Lawn in June. “I don’t want to live in a country that is a cult or in a kind of echo chamber,” Emanuel said. Instead, he envisions a scenario “where we can all sit there and say, okay, here’s one argument, here’s the other, and let’s get to a point where we can have a conversation.”