Kanye West Says Apology Letter ‘Isn’t About Reviving My Commerciality’: ‘These Remorseful Feelings Were So Heavy on My Heart’

In a detailed public statement published as a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal this Monday, the musician Ye issued a broad apology. The artist, who legally changed his name from Kanye West in 2021, addressed "those I've hurt," connecting his past antisemitic comments to untreated mental health issues and a brain injury. He was explicit, however, in stating this was not an excuse: "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people." A specific apology was also offered to the Black community, with Ye writing, "I am so sorry to have let you down."

Following the ad's publication, Ye engaged in an email dialogue with Vanity Fair. While answering some questions, he sidestepped others concerning the precise origins of his previous sentiments and any tangible plans for amends. When asked if the timing was a calculated "PR move" ahead of his awaited album "Bully," he redirected the focus to his enduring commercial relevance. Ye pointed to his persistent ranking among Spotify's top ten most-streamed U.S. artists in 2025, the anticipation for "Bully," and the milestone of his 2007 album "Graduation" recently becoming the year's most-streamed hip-hop record. "This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn't about reviving my commerciality," he insisted, framing the apology as a spiritual necessity for burdens "weighing on my spirit." Industry observers note that such a formal, public reconciliation is uncommon in hip-hop culture, where public disputes frequently go unresolved, lending this gesture added significance.

Ye attributed his current clarity of remorse to a severe four-month manic episode that began in early 2025. That period was characterized by social media tirades against Jewish people, the sale of merchandise featuring swastikas, and the release of a song titled "Heil Hitler." This mirrored a previous crisis in late 2022, when similar antisemitic remarks led major corporate partners, including Adidas and Balenciaga, to sever ties. The financial impact was devastating, erasing billions from his net worth. Reflecting on the damage, he wrote, "All of the family bonds, deep relationships, and lifelong friendships that I worked so hard to build over so many years were all tarnished by all of the horrible statements that I made so impulsively." The loss of the Adidas partnership was particularly consequential; launched in 2013, the Yeezy sneaker collaboration was generating nearly $1.5 billion in annual revenue for the sportswear giant prior to its abrupt cancellation.

The path to treatment proved difficult. Ye explained that an adjustment to his medication near the end of the 2025 episode precipitated a "really deep depressive episode." His wife, Bianca Censori—an architectural designer who began working with the Yeezy brand in 2020—encouraged him to seek treatment at a rehabilitation clinic in Switzerland. He also touched upon broader medical considerations, noting, "The African American community has a hypersensitivity to antipsychotic drugs, more than most groups." This observation aligns with psychiatric research, including studies from institutions like the University of California, San Francisco, which indicate that genetic factors can lead to varied metabolic responses and heightened side effects to certain psychotropic medications among some Black patients. Ye emphasized the complexity of finding an effective treatment regimen but affirmed his commitment to managing his bipolar disorder for long-term stability.