Highlights
- Kanye West takes out a full-page newspaper advert denying Nazi beliefs and apologising for antisemitic comments
- Rapper links past behaviour to bipolar disorder and an undiagnosed brain injury
- Jewish groups respond cautiously, saying words must be followed by sustained change
Full-page apology and denial
Kanye West, now known as Ye, has publicly denied being a Nazi and issued a renewed apology for his antisemitic remarks, placing a full-page advert in The Wall Street Journal. Titled To Those I’ve Hurt, the statement says the rapper is not seeking “sympathy or a free pass”, but hopes to earn forgiveness through accountability and change.
West also apologised to the Black community, saying he had let it down through his actions.
Backlash and career fallout
The apology follows years of controversy. West deleted his X account in February last year after widespread condemnation over statements including “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”. Around the same time, his Yeezy online store was taken offline after selling T-shirts featuring swastikas.
In May last year, the 48-year-old released a track titled Heil Hitler, prompting Australia to cancel his visa. Adidas had already severed ties with West in 2022 over antisemitic comments, a decision that left the sportswear giant with large volumes of unsold Yeezy trainers until last year.
West had previously apologised for his remarks in 2023, but the controversy has continued to resurface.
Mental health and brain injury claim
In the new statement, West insists: “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.” He attributes his behaviour to bipolar type-1 disorder, which he says stemmed from a car crash 25 years ago.
According to West, the brain injury from that accident was not properly identified until 2023. He described this as a “medical oversight” that caused lasting harm to his mental health and contributed to his bipolar diagnosis in 2016.
He said that in early 2025 he experienced a four-month manic episode marked by psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour. “I lost touch with reality,” he wrote, adding that he said and did things he deeply regrets. He also acknowledged having moments when he “didn’t want to be here any more”.
Family, recovery and future plans
West said he treated some of the people closest to him badly and became “detached from my true self”. The rapper, who was previously married to Kim Kardashian and shares four children with her, said he reached rock bottom a few months ago and that his current wife encouraged him to seek help.
He says he is now focusing on “positive, meaningful art”, including music, clothing and design, and is committed to treatment and long-term change.
“One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments,” he wrote, describing episodes of poor judgement that felt like an out-of-body experience. “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state.”
Cautious response from campaigners
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism responded sceptically, saying it has become difficult to keep track of West’s apologies and relapses. While welcoming the apology, the group said it would be meaningless if followed by further antisemitic behaviour.
They added that real change could begin with West explaining to his millions of followers why antisemitism is harmful, noting that his online audience is larger than the global Jewish population.
