Controversial rapper and controversy magnet Kanye “Ye” West has taken out a full-page an ad in the Wall Street Journal to apologise for his past antisemitic comments, reflecting on a "four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" and saying that he “lost touch with reality.”
The 26 January edition of the newspaper features a lengthy apology addressed “To Those I’ve Hurt”. In it, he shares details of his bipolar type-1 diagnosis, which he had previously dismissed.
He mentions being involved in a car accident 25 years ago, saying this had “caused injury to the right frontal lobe of (his) brain”.
“Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised,” West wrote. “It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. (...) That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.”
He added: “Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely.”
The rapper went on to look admit that “things got worse the longer I ignored the problem” and added: “Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognisable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self.”
Regarding his antisemitic outbursts, he wrote: “I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold t-shirts bearing it.” He expressed “regret” and said that it “does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
He also went on to apologise to the Black community, concluding: “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home. With love, Ye.”
West's apology comes a couple of months after he had a meeting with New York-based Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto where he said he felt "profound remorse" over the repeated string of antisemitic remarks he made in the past.
His erratic behaviour and social media meltdowns last year left already conflicted fans horrified. Amongst other things, he posted a picture of KKK robes, rescinded his previous apology to the Jewish community, declared himself “a Nazi” and asserted that he has “dominion over his wife”.
In February 2025, West started selling swastika t-shirts, and in May, he released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’, which praised the Nazi leader. This led him to be stripped of a visa to enter Australia and faced with immediate arrest in Brazil.
Last week, rightwing influencers Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes were filmed making Nazi salutes to the song 'Heil Hitler' as it played in a Miami Beach nightclub.
West’s candid apology in the WSJ also comes days ahead of the release of his upcoming album ‘Bully’ - set to drop on 30 January. Make of the timing what you will.
