In the wake of the controversy surrounding Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, and Robert Kraft, which resulted in the rapper being kicked off the Loop Tour, TKO Group Holdings and WME Group executive chairman Ari Emanuel gave his two cents on the matter.
Speaking to Jon Stewart, Emanuel was asked how he would've handled the situation involving Sheeran, Macklemore, and Robert Kraft. However, he only wanted to focus on Macklemore. He clarified that he doesn't “believe the word genocide is the proper word for what happened in the West Bank.”
Legendary agent @AriEmanuel shares how he would handle the tour controversy involving Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, and Robert Kraft, and how he tackles contentious conversations with powerful people like Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/DazudcXnux
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 22, 2026
He noted that he would sit down with Macklemore and talk things out, saying, “I don't want to live in a country that is a cult or in a kind of echo chamber.”
What's interesting is that Emanuel is the executive chairman of WME. The agency, according to Billboard, represents the rapper for his North American booking. However, he does not mention that while talking to Stewart.
On the topic of whether or not Kraft should have banned the rapper from performing at his venue, Emanuel conceded that he would talk to people in those positions to get their feelings on his comments.
Stewart kept pushing, and he wanted to know whether or not Emanuel agreed with Kraft's decision. Emanuel praised Kraft for his Blue Square Alliance Against Hate work, which stands as a symbol against antisemitism and hate of any kind.
Emanuel doesn't stand for any “hate,” which prompted Stewart to ask, “Do you believe what he (Macklemore) said on stage was hate?”
He responded, “I don't think it was completely understanding the facts. And I think it was belittling to Jewish people, too.”
Macklemore caused a stir while opening for Sheeran during his Loop Tour shows at MetLife Stadium on Sep. 4 and 5. He gave a political speech that included a “Free Palestine” chant.
In turn, Kraft allegedly presented Sheeran with an “ultimatum.” Either he removed Macklemore from the tour, or Sheeran's tour would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium at all. Other NFL team and venue owners signed off on Kraft's “ultimatum.”
Macklemore was removed from the tour. In turn, Sheeran's other opening acts and backing band (Beoga) dropped out in solidarity. He continued on with a new band and no opening act during his next show at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, Sep. 19. He will next perform at Gillette Stadium on Sep. 25 and 26.