Rapper Seeks Reconciliation in Private Meeting
Controversial rapper Kanye West, 48, has expressed what has been described as 'profound remorse' for his history of antisemitic remarks during a private meeting with a prominent New York Rabbi. The musician, who now goes by Ye, was photographed in a serious discussion with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto on November 7, 2025, marking a significant step in his efforts to address the fallout from his previous actions.
Attributing Behaviour to Mental Health
In a video shared on the Rabbi's Instagram account, West offered a detailed explanation for his past behaviour, directly linking it to his bipolar disorder. 'I was dealing with some various issues, bipolar, so it would take the ideas I had and had them, take them to an extreme where I would forget about the protection of the people around me, or myself,' the rapper stated. He used a powerful analogy, comparing the condition to leaving a child unsupervised who then causes chaos, emphasising that the responsibility for the aftermath ultimately falls to the parent.
West's past actions, which began gaining significant public attention in October 2022, included a series of inflammatory online posts, selling merchandise featuring swastikas, releasing a song titled 'Heil Hitler', and publicly referring to himself as a 'Nazi'. These actions led to widespread condemnation, bans from multiple social media platforms, and him being labelled a 'deranged bigot' by critics.
International Repercussions and a Path Forward
The consequences of West's remarks have extended beyond public opinion, resulting in tangible international sanctions. The rapper is currently banned from entering Australia after the country's Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, revoked his visa earlier this year. Minister Burke explicitly cited the 'Heil Hitler' song as the tipping point, stating, '...we don't need that in Australia.' It remains unclear if this ban is permanent, but the minister confirmed that visa applications are reassessed upon each submission.
This meeting with Rabbi Pinto is not West's first attempt at an apology. In May of this year, following a call with his four children, he posted on X that he was 'done with antisemitism' and asked for God's forgiveness. The recent meeting, however, represents a more personal and direct approach to reconciliation. Rabbi Pinto was seen squeezing West's hands and telling him, 'You are a very good man.' A caption from the post elaborated that the Rabbi praised West's 'will to move closer to truth' and highlighted that a person is defined by how they correct their mistakes.
The rapper concluded his remarks by thanking the Rabbi for embracing him and described the encounter as the 'first brick by brick' step in rebuilding. Both parties expressed a shared hope that their meeting could serve as a global example of the power of faith and reconciliation.
