Kanye West Apologizes for Antisemitic Behavior in Wall Street Journal Advertisement

Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, issued a public apology for his antisemitic behavior in a full-page advertisement published Monday in The Wall Street Journal.

In the letter, the Grammy-winning artist expressed regret over years of inflammatory remarks targeting Jewish people and his public praise of Nazi ideology, saying the actions stemmed from an untreated mental health crisis.

“I lost touch with reality,” West wrote. “Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem.”

West said his behavior was influenced by bipolar I disorder, which he linked to injuries sustained in a 2002 car accident. He denied being a Nazi or an antisemite but acknowledged the harm his statements caused and said he is committed to accountability and treatment.

The apology follows years of controversy beginning in 2022, when West faced widespread backlash for praising Adolf Hitler and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories. His remarks led to major professional and commercial fallout.

West said he is now focused on recovery and “positive, meaningful art,” adding that he is not seeking sympathy but patience as he moves forward.