Kanye West has apologized to the Black and Jewish communities after years of spewing racist and anti-Semitic beliefs.
“I lost touch with reality. The longer I ignored the problem, the worse it got. I said and did things that I deeply regret. I treated some of the people I love most the worst,” he wrote in a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal.
“You endured the fear, the confusion, the humiliation, and sometimes the exhaustion of trying to have someone you didn’t recognize. Looking back, I was disconnected from who I really was,” West, 48, added.
“In that broken state, I gravitated toward the most subversive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts with it on it.”
West, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said his illness has led to his “impaired judgment and reckless behavior that often feels like an out-of-body experience.”
“I regret and deeply regret my actions in this situation and am committed to taking responsibility, healing, and bringing about meaningful change,” he wrote.
“But that doesn’t excuse what I did. I’m not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love Jews,” West declared.
The Grammy winner then spoke directly to the black community, claiming that it has “held me down through all of my ups and downs and my darkest times.”
“The Black community is without a doubt the foundation of who I am as a person. I am so sorry to have let you down. We love you,” West wrote.
“As a community leader, my words have global influence and impact. In my manic state, I completely lost sight of that.”
The rapper said he is not “looking for sympathy or a free pass” but “earning forgiveness” from people.
“I am writing this letter today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I get home,” he wrote.
In his letter, West explained that he did not receive a “proper diagnosis” until 2023, more than 20 years after suffering a brain injury in a car accident.
“That medical oversight caused severe damage to my mental health and led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1,” he wrote.
“The scariest thing about this disorder is the persuasive power of the words, ‘You don’t need help.’ You’re blind, but you’re convinced that you have insight. You feel powerful, certain, and unstoppable,” the fashion designer said.
West has made some controversial statements over the years.
In 2022, the hip-hop hitmaker appeared at a surprise Yeezy fashion show in Paris wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt.
In October of the same year, West tweeted that he was going to do a “Death Con 3” against Jews. The comments prompted several companies, including Adidas, to cut ties with the father of four.
The following year, West wore a black Ku Klux Klan hood to a viewing party for his album Vultures.
He also promoted swastika T-shirts in a 2025 Super Bowl ad and released a song titled “Heil Hitler.”
