Ari Emanuel's tell-all memoir, "Roll the Calls," debuted at number two on The New York Times best-seller list, narrowly missing the top position to "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," by Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother. The book's placement came despite a notable promotional tour for Emanuel, which included Q&A sessions with figures like David Axelrod and Kara Swisher, and interviews with publications such as The New York Times and Puck.
Emanuel's book, announced in January by Knopf, covers a range of subjects including Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and business rivals like Jeffrey Katzenberg, as well as clients such as Larry David and Mark Wahlberg. A publishing insider described Emanuel's No. 2 debut as a "decent showing for week one," while acknowledging disappointment that Spencer's book, announced just a month prior to its publication by Penguin Press, unexpectedly surpassed it.
Spencer's "Swan Song" has generated significant attention for its controversial claims, including allegations that King Charles sounded like a "lottery winner" upon Princess Diana's death and vowed she would be "forgotten soon enough." The palace issued a statement suggesting that the "pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and color memory." Spencer has stood by his accounts, calling Charles' alleged remarks "monstrous."
Despite the competition, a different publishing source indicated satisfaction with Emanuel's performance, noting that "The fall is the biggest season for books" and that comparing Emanuel's memoir to Spencer's book is "like comparing apples and oranges."
Emanuel also recently commented on his professional relationship with Meghan Markle, stating in an interview that it was "great" to no longer be working with her, as their professional association ended the previous year.
In related news, Spencer's book has also faced legal scrutiny, with Piers Morgan reportedly pursuing legal action over passages he claims are defamatory. While Spencer has issued an apology for a factual error regarding Morgan, the passages remain in the book.