Kanye West, the US rapper, has issued an apology for his past “reckless behaviour”, including the use of antisemitic imagery and comments in which he described himself as a Nazi.
In a full-page in The
Wall Street Journal titled ‘To Those I’ve Hurt,’ the rapper attributed his past
actions to a medical oversight that failed to detect a frontal-lobe injury he
sustained in a 2002 car crash.
He said the undiagnosed injury later affected his mental
well-being and contributed to his bipolar disorder, which he described as a
“debilitating disease” with fatal risks comparable to conditions such as cancer
and heart disease.
West explained that the condition often impairs
self-awareness, causing those affected to believe nothing is wrong even as
their judgment deteriorates, while stressing the need for it to be treated with
the seriousness it deserves.
“Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke
my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain. At the time,
the focus was on the visible damage – the fracture, the swelling, and the
immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went
unnoticed,” the letter reads.
“Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were
limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. 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.
“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.
“Once people label you as “crazy,” you feel as if you cannot
contribute anything meaningful to the world. It’s easy for people to joke and
laugh it off when in fact this is a very serious debilitating disease you can
die from.
“According to the World Health Organization and Cambridge
University, people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is
shortened by 10 to 15 years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality
rate than the general population. This is on par with severe heart disease,
type 1 diabetes, HIV, and cancer – all lethal and fatal if left untreated.
“The scariest thing about this disorder is how persuasive it
is when it tells you: You don’t need help. It makes you blind, but convinced
you have insight. You feel powerful, certain, unstoppable.”
The 48-year-old rapper said the mental condition caused him
to “lose touch with reality”, leading him to hurt people close to him and
behave in ways he later found deeply troubling.
He explained that it was in that state, he gravitated toward
the swastika, which he described as “the most destructive symbol”, but insisted
the actions did not represent his beliefs as he denied being a Nazi or holding
antisemitic views.
The rapper added that he is now taking responsibility,
pursuing treatment, and apologised to the black community for letting them down
despite their continued support.
“I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I
ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people
I love the most, I treated the worst,” he wrote.
“You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the
exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable. Looking
back, I became detached from my true self.
“In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most
destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing
it. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected
moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and
reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience.
“I regret and I am deeply mortified by my actions in that
state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It
does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love
Jewish people.
“To the black community – which held me down through all of
the highs and lows and the darkest of times. The black community is,
unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down.
I love us.”
West, who is also called Ye, said he found solace in “Reddit
forums” and is now redirecting his focus toward positive creative work while
seeking patience, forgiveness and understanding as he rebuilds his life.
“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode
of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life. As the
situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to
be here anymore,” the letter continued.
“Having bipolar disorder is notable state of constant mental
illness. When you go into a manic episode, you are ill at that point. When you
are not in an episode, you are completely “normal”. And that’s when the
wreckage from the illness hits the hardest. Hitting rock bottom a few months
ago, my wife encouraged me to finally get help.
“I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places.
Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar
nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone. It’s not just
me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day and
being told by the so-called best doctors in the world that I am not bipolar,
but merely experiencing “symptoms of autism”.
“My words as a leader in my community have global impact and
influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that.
“As I find my new baseline and new center through an
effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have
newfound, much-needed clarity. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful
art: music, clothing, design and other new ideas to help the world.
“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.”
In February 2025, West said his bipolar disorder was a
misdiagnosis, claiming he was later identified as autistic after a
re-evaluation.
Over the years, the rapper has faced widespread backlash for
antisemitic remarks.
In 2022, he made headlines for claiming that “Jewish people
control Hollywood,” leading to the termination of his long-standing partnership
with sportswear giant Adidas.
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