Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took out a full-page ad in Monday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal, where he published an open letter expressing regret for his self-proclaimed “antisemitic” comments and past actions.
The advertisement, a letter titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” details a period of severe mental health struggles that West says contributed to his prior Anti-semitic behavior, per TMZ. He describes a four-month “manic episode” in early 2025 riddled with “psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior” during which he “lost touch with reality.” He says that the manic episode included embracing swastikas and releasing content that glorified Nazi imagery – actions that drew widespread condemnation and severely damaged his business partnerships.
Ye would go on to connect those past erratic actions to an undiagnosed brain injury from a 2002 car accident that fractured his jaw and affected the right frontal lobe. His first single as an artist was titled “Through the Wire” – a direct nod to the crash that left his jaw wired shut for a period of time.
The musician claims that the brain injury from that crash went unrecognized for years, just worsening his bipolar disorder, which was not properly diagnosed until 2023. In the letter, he writes that during his manic states, he felt he was seeing the world more clearly, while in reality, he was losing his grip entirely.
He further stressed that this explanation “does not excuse what I did,” adding, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
The apology extends beyond the Jewish community.
West addresses the Black community directly as well, acknowledging it as “the foundation of who I am” and expressing sorrow for letting the community down. He also briefly mentioned his commitment to ongoing treatment – including medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living – and credits his new wife, Bianca Censori, for supporting his path to accountability and recovery.
However, this is not Ye’s first public apology.
He previously apologized in 2023 (though he later retracted it), and even met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto in late 2025 to ask for forgiveness, per Billboard Magazine.
The Anti-Defamation League responded to the latest statement from West by calling it “long overdue” while also stating that it does not erase his history of harmful rhetoric, including hundreds of social media posts, selling swastika merchandise, and publishing a song titled “Heil Hitler,” previously reported on by DX.
The new letter from Ye in the WSJ comes as he prepares to release his next album, “Bully.” He also has a two-night concert series scheduled in Mexico City at the Monumental Plaza De Toros on January 30 and 31.
Ye ended the letter by asking for patience rather than sympathy.
“I am 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,” Ye concluded.
