Nationwide — Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has apologized for his antisemitic actions, including selling swastika T-shirts and making offensive statements. He said he wants forgiveness from those he hurt and explained that his behavior was influenced by bipolar disorder and a past brain injury.
Ye took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt.” In it, he wrote he is “not a Nazi or an antisemite” and expressed love for Jewish people. He blamed his actions on bipolar type-1 disorder, which he said was worsened by a frontal-lobe injury from a 2002 car crash.
According to The Guardian, he admitted that the disorder led him to “lose touch with reality” and make reckless choices, including releasing a song called Heil Hitler and engaging in Holocaust denial. Shopify also removed his online store after he sold swastika T-shirts earlier in 2025. Ye said he now regrets these actions and is committed to accountability and treatment.
Ye reflected on his mental health struggles, describing a four-month manic episode in early 2025 as “psychotic, paranoid and impulsive” and saying it led to suicidal thoughts. He opened up about the impact on his family and loved ones, saying they “endured fear, confusion, and humiliation” during his episodes.
He credited his wife, Australian architect Bianca Censori, with encouraging him to seek help. He also apologized to his loved ones, including his children, and to the Black community for past remarks and controversial clothing choices.
He said therapy, medication, exercise, and “clean living” are helping him regain clarity. Ye encouraged himself and others to focus on creating “positive, meaningful art.”
He concluded by asking for patience and understanding, writing, “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”