Arena Group Fires Sports Illustrated CEO Amid AI Content Controversy

Interim CEO Manoj Bhargava Steps In as Company Continues to Embrace AI-Assisted Content Generation

Sports Illustrated's parent company, The Arena Group, has fired CEO Ross Levinsohn as part of a strategic business move to improve operational efficiency and revenue.
The Arena Group has also terminated other executives, including operations president and COO Andrew Kraft, media president Rob Barrett, and corporate counsel Julie Fenster.
The firings come in the wake of a scandal in which Sports Illustrated was accused of publishing AI-generated stories under fake bylines, a claim the company has denied.
Despite the controversy, The Arena Group remains committed to AI-assisted content generation, which it believes can create enterprise value for its brands.
Manoj Bhargava, founder of 5-Hour Energy and majority investor in The Arena Group, has been named interim CEO.