Kanye West Issues Public Apology for 'Reckless' Antisemitic Comments, Says 'I Lost Touch With Reality'

Kanye West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has issued a public apology for antisemitic remarks that drew global condemnation. In a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal headlined To Those I've Hurt, the musician and producer said he wanted to take responsibility for the harm he caused to Jewish communities and to the wider public.

Ye linked his behaviour to mental health struggles, but said his condition was not an excuse. He wrote that he is now working towards stability through medication, therapy, exercise, and what he described as 'clean living', as he tries to rebuild trust after years of inflammatory public statements.

Ye Admits He 'Lost Touch With Reality'

In the advertisement, Ye said he 'lost touch with reality' and that his actions in recent years had been 'reckless'. He wrote that the longer he ignored his problems, the more damaging his conduct became.

'I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret,' Page Six quoted Ye as saying in the advert. 'Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst.'

The rapper, 48, also connected his misconduct to what he described as an undiagnosed brain injury from a vehicular accident more than two decades ago. He said he has since been diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.

'My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that,' he added. 'As I find my new baseline and new centre through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity.'

Kanye West

Addressing Harmful Symbolism and Remarks

Ye said that, during manic episodes, he experienced a sense of disconnection from reality that led to poor judgement and impulsive decisions. He linked that mindset to a string of public controversies, including the sale of clothing featuring hateful imagery and provocative posts on social media.

He singled out his use of the swastika, a symbol widely associated with Nazi ideology, saying he now sees it as an especially destructive choice. Ye wrote that he used it in music and merchandise, and said he is 'deeply mortified' when reflecting on those decisions.

'Looking back, I became detached from my true self,' he wrote. 'In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it.'

'I Am Not a Nazi'

Ye's apology also addressed earlier posts in which he described himself as a Nazi and wrote statements praising Adolf Hitler. He also posted a series of messages on X, formerly Twitter, that included offensive remarks about Jewish people, and comments suggesting he had 'dominion' over his wife, Bianca Censori.

'I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state,' he wrote, adding that his mental health struggles 'do not excuse what I did'.

'I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,' he added.

Apology to the Black Community

Ye also apologised to the Black community and to supporters who have followed his career for years, saying he understood that his words and actions may have felt like a betrayal to people who identified with his cultural influence.

He ended by saying he was not asking for sympathy or 'a free pass', but wanted to earn forgiveness over time. Ye said he is asking for patience and understanding as he tries to find his way back.