In a significant public statement, rapper Kanye West has formally apologised for years of erratic behaviour and anti-Semitic rants, acknowledging he had "lost touch with reality." The American musician, now known as Ye, published a full-page advertisement in New York's Wall Street Journal to express remorse for his controversial comments, which have drawn widespread criticism and backlash over an extended period.
A Medical Explanation for Controversial Actions
Published on Monday, the lengthy apology letter revealed that West's behaviour stemmed from an undiagnosed brain injury and untreated bipolar disorder. Titled "To Those I've Hurt," the open letter coincided with the announcement of his upcoming album, Bully, scheduled for release on Friday according to Spotify listings.
West detailed a car accident twenty-five years ago that broke his jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of his brain. "At the time, the focus was on the visible damage — the fracture, the swelling and the immediate physical trauma," West wrote. "The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed."
Diagnosis and Denial
Further testing later revealed damage to his frontal lobe, which eventually led to his diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder in 2023. "That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health," he added. The former husband of reality star Kim Kardashian admitted he was in "denial" about his "manic" behaviour during this period.
"You think everyone else is over-reacting," West explained. "You feel like you're seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you're losing grip entirely." West said the situation only deteriorated the longer he ignored the problem, culminating in him losing touch with reality.
Regret and Relationship Fallout
"I said and did things I deeply regret," the singer confessed. "Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst." West was married to Kardashian for seven years and they have four children together. Leading up to and following their 2021 divorce filing, West engaged in erratic public behaviour, social media attacks and public disputes over co-parenting arrangements.
Kardashian later described the relationship as "toxic" in public statements. West's letter expressed particular remorse for past statements praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and his use of swastika imagery. "In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it," he revealed.
Attributing Anti-Semitic Rhetoric
He attributed his anti-Semitic rhetoric to his bipolar diagnosis, explaining that his poor mental health "led to poor judgement and reckless behaviour that often times feels like an out-of-body experience." West emphasised: "I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change."
He added a crucial clarification: "It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love Jewish people."
Organisational Response and Recovery Journey
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitism globally, described West's apology as overdue while noting his extensive history of anti-Semitic remarks. In a statement to Reuters, the organisation said: "Ye's apology to the Jewish people is long overdue and doesn't automatically undo his long history of anti-Semitism — the anti-Semitic 'Heil Hitler' song he created, the hundreds of tweets, the swastikas and myriad Holocaust references — and all of the feelings of hurt and betrayal it caused."
They continued: "The truest apology would be for him to not engage in anti-Semitic behaviour in the future. We wish him well on the road to recovery."
Personal Support and Turning Point
West credited his wife Bianca Censori for encouraging him to seek help after "hitting rock bottom a few months ago." He described being in "a four month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" in early 2025 that destroyed his life, admitting he had thoughts of not wanting "to be here anymore."
The rapper concluded his letter by stating that while he is "not asking for sympathy, or a free pass," he wants to earn people's forgiveness through genuine change. "I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home," West wrote, signing off as "Ye" in his characteristically minimalist style.
This public apology represents a significant moment in West's controversial career, marking an attempt to address the substantial damage caused by his previous statements and behaviour while providing context through his mental health struggles and medical history.
