Kanye West apologizes for antisemitic tweets, blames brain damage

American rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has issued a public apology for his past antisemitic tweets, attributing his “destructive” behaviour to an undiagnosed brain injury sustained over 25 years ago

In a full-page advertisement published in the Monday, January 26 edition of The Wall Street Journal, titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” Ye detailed what he described as a “devastating health battle” that caused him to lose touch with reality. The ad was signed by Ye, noted as paid for by Yeezy, and included contact information for the company’s CFO.

Ye claimed he suffered a brain injury during a car accident decades ago that went largely unnoticed, leading to mental health complications and a bipolar type-1 diagnosis.

“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,” the ad read. “The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.”

He described bipolar disorder as a “debilitating disease” that distorts perception, leaving sufferers convinced they are seeing the world clearly while losing touch with reality.

“Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely,” he wrote. “I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst.”

Ye revealed that a four-month manic episode in early 2025 had a particularly destructive impact on his life. He credited his wife, Bianca Censori, for encouraging him to seek help after “hitting rock bottom.”

Regarding his antisemitic outbursts, Ye described them as “out-of-body experiences” triggered by his bipolar disorder, during which he gravitated toward destructive symbols, including selling merchandise bearing the swastika. He emphasized, however, that he is not a Nazi or antisemite and expressed love for Jewish people.

He also apologized directly to the Black community, writing, “To the black community – which held me down through all of the highs and lows and darkest of times. The black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am. I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us.”

Ye said he has now found a “new baseline” through medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living. He also noted that reading about others’ experiences with similar episodes online helped him realize he was not alone.

“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,” he concluded.

Ye’s series of antisemitic remarks first gained widespread attention in late 2022, including a controversial tweet threatening action against Jewish people.