Kanye West is pushing back against claims that his recent apology for antisemitic remarks was timed to boost his upcoming album.
In a new Vanity Fair interview published yesterday, the rapper said his full-page Wall Street Journal apology was driven by personal regret, not publicity for his next project, Bully. “
“This, for me, isn’t about reviving my commerciality,” Ye said, noting that his streaming numbers are still very strong. He claimed he ranked among the top 10 most listened-to artists in the U.S. on Spotify in 2025 and said his new album is already one of the platform’s most anticipated releases.
Ye, fka Kanye West, takes out a full-page in the Wall Street Journal to apologize to the Black community, and for antisemitism:
“I lost touch with reality” pic.twitter.com/Po8s4gNz5P
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 26, 2026
Ye explained that the apology came from an emotional place. “These remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit,” he said. “I owe a huge apology once again for everything that I said that hurt the Jewish and Black communities in particular. All of it went too far.”
The musician added that his public influence carries responsibility. “So many people follow and listen to my every word,” he said. “It’s important they understand what side of history I want to stand on, and that is one of love and positivity.”
Ye’s statement follows years of backlash over offensive comments that led to lost business partnerships and legal trouble and he says now he is focused on accountability and change.