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Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, apologized for his years of anti-Semitic and other controversial comments in a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal.
In the lengthy statement titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” (paid for by Yeezy), West combines his apology with an account of his struggle with bipolar disorder. He explains that he was only correctly diagnosed in 2023, and links his mental health issues to undiagnosed and unexamined head injuries he may have suffered in the 2002 car accident that shattered his jaw – an event that also inspired his first solo hit, “Through the Wire.”
“I lost touch with reality. The longer I ignored the problem, the worse it got,” West wrote of his recent manic episodes. “I said and did things that I deeply regret. I treated some of the people I love most the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation and the exhaustion of loving someone who was unrecognizable at times. Looking back, I became distant from my true self.”
Description of manic episodes
West went on to describe what it feels like to be in a manic episode: “You don’t think you’re sick,” and it feels like “everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever before, when in reality you’re completely out of touch. As soon as people label you ‘crazy,’ you feel like you can’t contribute anything meaningful to the world.”
He added: “The most frightening thing about this disorder is how convincing it is when it convinces you: You don’t need help. It blinds you, but at the same time convinces you that you have insight. You feel powerful, safe and unstoppable.”
West subsequently admitted that in this “fragmented state he was drawn to the most destructive symbol I could find – the swastika – and even sold T-shirts with it on it.” (West began selling swastika-themed merchandise on his website last February; a few months later, he also released a song called “Heil Hitler.” There had previously been public incidents in which he praised Hitler and promoted Nazi symbolism, accompanied by numerous anti-Semitic rants. Rolling Stone also reported that West’s fascination with Hitler and the Nazis went back several decades.)
Apology and classification
In his apology, West continued: “One of the difficult aspects of Type 1 Bipolar Disorder is the disengaged moments – many of which I cannot remember to this day – that result in poor judgment and reckless behavior that often feels like an out-of-body experience. I deeply regret and am ashamed of my actions in this condition. I am committed to responsibility, treatment and real change. However, that does not excuse my behavior. I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love Jewish people.”
West also apologized to the black community, which, in his own words, “carried him through all the ups and downs and the darkest times.” “The black community is without a doubt the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have disappointed you. I love us.”
More personal insights
West said the four-month “manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior” he experienced early last year nearly “destroyed my life.” He even hinted at suicidal thoughts when he wrote: “As the situation became increasingly intolerable, there were times when I no longer wanted to be here.” He wrote that his wife, Bianca Censori, finally encouraged him to seek help after he hit “rock bottom” a few months ago.
West said he is currently seeking a “new balance and center through a powerful combination of medication, therapy, exercise and a clean lifestyle.” He also found comfort in Reddit forums where people share their own experiences with “similar manic or depressive episodes.” “I read their stories and realized I was not alone,” West wrote.
Concluding his apology, West said he had found some “much-needed clarity” and was now directing his “energy toward positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design and other new ideas to help the world.” He concluded: “I am not asking for pity or a free pass, although I hope to earn your forgiveness. I am writing today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I try to find my way home.”
Previous apologies
This is not the first time that West has apologized for his behavior and offensive statements. In December 2023, after several years of anti-Semitic comments, he posted a statement on Instagram written in Hebrew that said: “I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any inadvertent outbursts caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.”
