Rapper and producer Kanye West has been in the news again, and This time it is not to qualify anyone. The Grammy Award-winning rapper has been under pressure for his past comments about Jewish people, his songs that appear to glorify Hitler and his abusive rants on social media. He has now taken out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, apologizing for his anti-Semitic comments and has even cited reasons behind his social media outbursts.
The rapper, who lost the collaboration with Adidas because of his comments, wrote in the announcement that he regrets the statements he made about Jews. He wrote: “I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love the Jewish people… I am sorry and deeply mortified by my actions in that state and am committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change.” He went on to reveal that a car accident in 2002 left the frontal lobe of his brain damaged. Kanye revealed that this caused him to develop bipolar disorder.
He added: “It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. Bipolar disorder comes with its own defense system. Denial. When you’re manic, you don’t believe 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 completely losing control.”
Kanye claimed he was in a “fractured” state and said: “I lost touch with reality. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst.t. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation, and the exhaustion of trying to love someone who, at times, was unrecognizable. One of the difficult aspects of having bipolar type 1 is the moments of disconnection (many of which I still can’t remember) that lead to poor judgment and reckless behavior that often feels like an out-of-body experience. It doesn’t excuse what I did. I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. “I love the Jewish people.”
He went on to thank the black community for standing by him through thick and thin and apologized for letting them down. Kanye said he understands that his words have a global impact and asked people around him to have some patience. “As I find my new foundation and my new center through an effective regimen of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living. I am not asking for sympathy or a free pass, although I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I am writing today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my home,” Kanye wrote.
The ‘Otis’ rapper received immense criticism for his comments on social media directed at the Jewish people. From releasing a song called ‘Heil Hitler’ to abusive lyrics, the rapper seemed to become more hateful with every song and every social media post.