Kanye West has publicly apologized after purchasing an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal addressing an episode he believes contributed to his battles with bipolar disorder.
Since his breakthrough in the music industry in 2004, West has been involved in numerous controversies, but none quite like the ones that followed his separation from Kim Kardashian.
Following the divorce, West, who now goes by the name Ye, remarried and started a new chapter with Bianca Censori, continued with his fashion ventures… and then sparked further controversies.
In February 2025, a Jewish employee of Yeezy filed a lawsuit against the rapper, alleging antisemitic and sexist remarks, alongside an incident where West purportedly referred to himself as a Nazi and likened himself to Adolf Hitler.
The lawsuit was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on February 11, with claims that West insulted the woman by calling her ‘ugly’ and exclaiming ‘Heil Hitler’.
According to her account, Ye texted her in January saying, “I Am A NAZI,” after she urged him to speak out against Nazism.
The lawsuit also contends that he texted two other employees, stating, “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler.”
This incident followed his expulsion from his talent agency after a spate of antisemitic tweets.
During the Super Bowl, West managed to air a commercial promoting his t-shirts featuring swastikas, causing widespread outcry.
Following these events, Ye claimed that his wife had left him and that many were against him, eventually releasing a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’.
Kardashian then spoke openly about the challenges she faced being married to the Yeezy founder, detailing his unpredictable behavior among other issues.
Despite this, West continued to deny any issues and frequently posted controversial statements and rants on social media, particularly after his Grammy incident.
That is, until now.
West, who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder I in 2016, took the dramatic step of buying an ad in the Wall Street Journal to address his conduct and what he describes as ‘manic’ episodes.
He directed the letter to ‘Those I’ve Hurt’ and divulged that his controversies trace back to a severe car accident in 2002.
He stated: “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. At the time, the focus was on the visible damage—the fracture, the swelling, and the immediate physical trauma. The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed.”
West asserted that ‘comprehensive scans were not done’ and ‘neurological exams were limited’, leading to a ‘frontal-lobe injury’ going undiagnosed until 2023.
“That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis,” he claimed.
He elaborated that living with Bipolar Disorder, a mental condition characterized by extreme mood swings and erratic behavior, involves ‘denial’ as a ‘defense system’.
“When you’re manic, you don’t think you’re sick. You think everyone else is overreacting. You feel like you’re seeing the world more clearly than ever, when in reality you’re losing your grip entirely,” he explained.
West acknowledged the mocking he faced and expressed remorse, writing: “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. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to have someone who was, at times, unrecognizable. Looking back, I became detached from my true self.”
He addressed why he fixated on antisemitism, stating: “In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type-1 are the disconnected moments – many of which I still cannot recall – that led to poor judgment and reckless behavior that oftentimes feels like an out-of-body-experience. I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
He concluded by expressing gratitude for the support he has received and discussed his ongoing mental health journey.
He wrote: “To the black community – which held me down through all of the highs and lows and the 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.
“In early 2025, I fell into a four-month long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life. As the situation became increasingly unsustainable, there were times I didn’t want to be here anymore.
“Having bipolar disorder is a constant state of mental illness. When you go into a manic episode, you are ill at that point. When you are not in an episode, you are completely ‘normal’. And that’s when the wreckage from the illness hits the hardest.
“Hitting rock bottom a few months ago, my wife encouraged me to finally get help.
“I have found comfort in Reddit forums of all places. Different people speak of being in manic or depressive episodes of a similar nature. I read their stories and realized that I was not alone. It’s not just me who ruins their entire life once a year despite taking meds every day and being told by the so-called best doctors in the world that I am not bipolar, but merely experiencing “symptoms of autism.”
“My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that.
“As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world.
“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.”
“With love, Ye.”
UNILAD reached out to Kanye West’s representatives for comment.