By Chioba ifunayan
American rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, has issued a rare and extensive public apology to the Black and Jewish communities, expressing remorse over years of inflammatory remarks and controversial actions that drew global backlash.
The apology was delivered through a full-page open letter published in the Wall Street Journal, titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” just days before the release of his upcoming album, Bully, scheduled for January 30. The project follows his 2024 release, VULTURES 1.
In the letter, the 48-year-old artist reflected deeply on his past behaviour, linking much of it to untreated neurological and mental health challenges stemming from a serious car accident earlier in his life.
“At the time, attention was placed only on the physical injuries,” West wrote. “What went unnoticed was the trauma inside my head. That oversight had lasting consequences.”
He revealed that the lack of early neurological evaluation contributed to years of untreated mental health struggles, which later culminated in a bipolar type-1 diagnosis in 2023. West admitted he initially resisted the diagnosis, describing manic episodes as deceptive and dangerously empowering.
“When you’re manic, you don’t believe anything is wrong,” he wrote. “You feel invincible. Certain. Untouchable.”
Acknowledging the harm he caused, West said his unchecked condition led him down a destructive path, damaging relationships and pushing him toward extremist symbolism and rhetoric.
“I ignored the warning signs, and things spiralled,” he admitted. “I hurt people I love. I embraced symbols that represent hate, including the swastika, and even commercialised them. That is something I deeply regret.”
Addressing accusations of antisemitism directly, West stated unequivocally: “I am not a Nazi. I am not an antisemite. I love Jewish people.” He described his actions during that period as moments of disconnection and poor judgment that he finds “deeply mortifying.”
The rapper credited his wife, Bianca Censori, whom he married in 2023, with encouraging him to finally seek sustained medical and psychological help after what he described as “rock bottom.”
West also spoke about finding unexpected support in online communities, particularly on Reddit, where discussions around mental health helped him feel less isolated in his struggles.
Reflecting on his influence, he acknowledged the weight of his platform, admitting that his words carry global consequences—something he lost sight of during his most turbulent periods.
“My voice reaches far beyond me,” he wrote. “In my instability, I forgot that.”
Now, West says he is committed to a more grounded lifestyle, anchored in consistent treatment, therapy, exercise, and disciplined living, and is channeling his creativity into work he believes can have a positive impact.
“With clarity comes responsibility,” he said. “I’m focused on making meaningful art—music, fashion, design—that adds value, not harm.”
He closed the letter not with demands for forgiveness, but with a plea for time and understanding.
“I’m not asking for a free pass,” West concluded. “I hope, in time, to earn forgiveness. For now, I ask only for patience as I find my way back.”
The apology follows reports that West recently met with New York-based Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, where he privately expressed regret over his past statements, signalling what appears to be a broader attempt at reconciliation and personal reset ahead of his next musical chapter.
