In a significant public statement, musician and fashion designer Kanye West (Ye) has issued a formal apology for his history of antisemitic outbursts, attributing his past behavior to an undiagnosed brain injury and bipolar disorder.
The apology was published as a full-page advertisement titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” in the January 26 print edition of The Wall Street Journal, paid for by his company, Yeezy.
Medical Explanation for "Destructive" Behavior
In the letter, West claimed that a 1998 car accident, which broke his jaw, also caused an undiagnosed injury to the right frontal lobe of his brain. He stated this injury was not properly identified until 2023 and was a contributing factor to his later diagnosis of bipolar type-1 disorder.
“That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health,” West wrote, describing the disorder as a debilitating disease with a mortality rate comparable to cancer. He explained that during manic episodes, he became “detached from my true self” and lost touch with reality, leading to destructive behavior.
Addressing the Antisemitic Incidents
West specifically addressed his past antisemitic statements and actions, including a period when he sold merchandise featuring swastikas. He described these moments as an “out-of-body experience” stemming from a “fractured state.”
“In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika... I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state,” he wrote, while asserting, “I am not a Nazi or antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
He also apologized directly to the Black community, acknowledging their support throughout his career and expressing remorse for letting them down.
Path to Treatment and Recovery
The artist detailed a severe four-month manic episode in early 2025 that “destroyed” his life and credited his wife, Bianca Censori, with encouraging him to seek professional help after he “hit rock bottom.”
West stated he is now committed to a regimen of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, which has provided him with “newfound, much-needed clarity.” He concluded by asking for patience and understanding rather than sympathy, writing, “I aspire to earn your forgiveness.”
Context and Fallout
West’s antisemitic comments, which began circulating prominently in late 2022, led to severed partnerships with major brands like Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap, as well as his departure from talent agency CAA and his private bank.
This public apology marks his most comprehensive attempt to address the controversy and provide a medical explanation for the behavior that significantly damaged his public standing and commercial ventures.
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