Controversial musician Kanye West has taken the extraordinary step of publishing a full-page public apology in The Wall Street Journal, addressing his history of antisemitic remarks and attributing his behaviour to serious mental health challenges and an undiagnosed brain injury.
A Comprehensive Public Statement
The 48-year-old artist, who has been known professionally as Ye since 2021, titled his address "To Those I've Hurt" and opened with a startling revelation about a car accident twenty-five years ago that he claims fundamentally altered his mental health trajectory.
"Twenty-five years ago, I was in a car accident that broke my jaw and caused injury to the right frontal lobe of my brain," West writes. "At the time, the focus was on the visible damage—the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed."
Medical Oversight and Diagnosis
West explains that comprehensive scans were not conducted following the accident, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised until proper diagnosis in 2023. He directly links this medical oversight to his subsequent bipolar type-1 diagnosis and the deterioration of his mental health.
"That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis," the statement continues, setting the stage for his explanation of the behaviours that have generated widespread condemnation.
The Reality of Bipolar Disorder
West delves deeply into his experience with bipolar disorder, describing the "defence system" that accompanies the condition and the dangerous denial that can prevent individuals from recognising their illness.
"When you're manic, you don't think you're sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you're seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you're losing your grip entirely," he writes with striking candour.
The musician cites sobering research from the World Health Organisation and Cambridge University, noting that "people with bipolar disorder have a life expectancy that is shortened by 10 to 15 years on average, and a 2x-3x higher all-cause mortality rate than the general population."
The Most Destructive Symbol
In perhaps the most revealing section of his statement, West addresses his gravitation toward the swastika, acknowledging that "in that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it."
He references the controversial Super Bowl advertisement that directed people to Yeezy.com last February, where they could purchase T-shirts featuring the symbol for $20. The merchandise was eventually removed by Shopify after facing criticism for taking "an entire day" to address the violation of its terms of use.
Regret and Accountability
West expresses profound regret for his actions, stating: "I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognisable."
He adds: "Looking back, I became detached from my true self," before emphasising that "it does not excuse what I did though" despite his mental health challenges.
Addressing the Black Community
The rapper directly addresses the Black community, which he describes as having "held [him] through all of the highs and lows of the darkest of times," calling them "unquestionably the foundation of who [he] is."
"I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us," he writes, acknowledging the particular hurt his actions may have caused within this community.
The Path to Treatment
West describes a particularly difficult period in early 2025 when he "fell into a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" that he says "destroyed [his] life."
"As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn't want to be here anymore," he reveals with startling honesty.
It wasn't until a few months ago that his wife, model and architect Bianca Censori, 31, encouraged him to seek help. Since then, he has found "comfort" in Reddit forums, reading about different people's experiences "of a similar nature" that made him feel less alone.
Newfound Clarity and Commitment
The musician concludes by vowing to channel his energy into more positive endeavours, writing: "As I find my new baseline and new centre through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity."
"I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world," he promises, while insisting he is "not asking for sympathy or a free pass" but rather hopes to "earn your forgiveness."
Context and Consequences
West's public apology comes after years of controversial statements and actions that have significantly damaged his reputation and career. The Gold Digger hitmaker has faced numerous consequences for his behaviour, including being banned from X (then Twitter) before Elon Musk's takeover reinstated his account.
Major fashion partnerships with Adidas and Gap were terminated following his antisemitic remarks, and he was stripped of his billionaire status in October 2022. His net worth plummeted from $2 billion to approximately $400 million as he lost lucrative business deals.
Previous controversies have included praising Hitler, opposing abortion and gay marriage, supporting gun rights, endorsing Donald Trump, defending Sean 'Diddy' Combs against sexual assault allegations, suggesting slavery "sounds like a choice," and showcasing "White Lives Matter" shirts at his 2022 fashion show.
In December 2022, West further inflamed tensions by claiming his bipolar disorder was initially a "misdiagnosis from a Jewish doctor," adding to the pattern of antisemitic statements that his current apology seeks to address.
