In an extraordinary public mea culpa, music icon Kanye West (now known as Ye) has issued a formal apology for his history of antisemitic remarks and controversial behavior through a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal. The rapper revealed previously undisclosed medical information that provides context for his erratic public conduct in recent years.
The artist disclosed that a severe car accident twenty-five years ago resulted in an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury affecting his right frontal lobe. While immediate attention focused on his broken jaw and visible injuries, comprehensive neurological evaluation was overlooked at the time. This medical oversight, West explained, went undetected until proper diagnosis in 2023, significantly impacting his mental health and contributing to his bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
West described experiencing a ‘four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior’ in 2025, during which he ‘lost touch with reality’ and gravitated toward ‘the most destructive symbols’ – including selling T-shirts bearing swastikas. He expressed particular remorse for how his actions affected loved ones, acknowledging they ‘endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable.’
The artist explicitly distanced himself from antisemitic ideologies, stating: ‘It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.’ He credited his wife, Bianca Censori, with encouraging him to seek professional help during his mental health crisis.
West concluded his apology by outlining his recovery regimen involving medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, which has provided him ‘newfound, much-needed clarity.’ He pledged to channel his energy into ‘positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world’ while seeking forgiveness from fans and those affected by his past actions.