Ye has issued a public apology for his past antisemitic remarks, saying untreated medical issues and mental health struggles played a role in his behavior.
In a full-page advertisement published Monday in The Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” the artist formerly known as Kanye West wrote, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.” He added, “I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change.”
Ye explained that he suffered an injury to the right frontal lobe of his brain in a car accident 25 years ago that went undiagnosed until 2023. “The medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health,” he said, noting it contributed to his bipolar type 1 diagnosis. “I lost touch with reality and became detached from my true self.”
He acknowledged using hateful symbols and language during a months-long manic episode. “In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find,” he wrote.
Ye said he sought help after hitting “rock bottom,” crediting his wife Bianca Censori with encouraging treatment through medication and therapy. “I’m not asking for sympathy,” he added. “I simply ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”
The Anti-Defamation League responded that the apology is “long overdue” and said true accountability will be shown through future actions.