Kanye West Apologizes for Antisemitic Rants, Says He Got Help for Brain Injury After Manic Episode in 2025 ‘Destroyed My Life’ With ‘Psychotic’ Behavior

In a bid for public reconciliation, the artist Ye—formerly Kanye West—has issued a formal apology for the series of controversies that have defined his recent years. The statement was published as a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, directly addressing "those I've hurt." Ye asserts that a serious, long-undiagnosed mental health condition, stemming from an injury over two decades old, is the root cause of his past behavior, which included making antisemitic remarks and expressing support for Adolf Hitler.

He elaborates that a car accident 25 years ago, just before his rise to fame, caused a traumatic brain injury to his frontal lobe. This injury, he says, went undetected until 2023 and is the underlying cause of his bipolar I disorder, a diagnosis he has publicly wavered on but now fully accepts. Ye describes losing touch with reality, writing, "The scariest thing about this disorder is how persuasive it is when it tells you: You don't need help." He references a recent, destructive "four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior" that included suicidal thoughts. Bipolar I disorder, characterized by severe manic episodes often requiring hospitalization, provides a clinical context for the extreme states he recounts. This disclosure aligns with a growing, though complex, public conversation about how mental health conditions intersect with accountability, particularly for influential figures.

Within the apology, Ye uses this medical explanation to frame his most inflammatory actions. He states that during manic periods, he was drawn to provocative symbols, such as selling T-shirts featuring a swastika—conduct he now calls reckless and akin to an out-of-body experience. His message to Jewish communities is direct: "I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state... It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite." The cyclical nature of bipolar disorder presents a unique challenge for public figures, often leading to public statements made during periods of profound instability followed by remorse during stability. As Dr. Elena Martinez, a clinical psychologist specializing in mood disorders, notes, "This pattern can create a confusing and painful public narrative, making it difficult for the public to reconcile a person's actions across different phases of a serious illness."

The timing of this detailed apology is notable, arriving just as Ye's long-awaited album "Bully" appeared on streaming platforms ahead of its official release this Friday. This has led many industry analysts to view the statement as a strategic component of an attempted career rehabilitation. Ye's history with public accountability has been inconsistent; after expressing regret in late 2022 for antisemitic comments, he later provoked further outrage with a song titled "Heil Hitler." This latest effort represents his most comprehensive attempt to date to provide context and assume responsibility. He concludes by affirming a commitment to ongoing treatment and redirecting his energy into his art, asking for public patience rather than sympathy as he moves forward.