Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has published a full-page apology ad in The Wall Street Journal, addressing his past antisemitic behaviour and rejecting claims that he identifies as a Nazi.
The open letter, titled “To Those I’ve Hurt”, marks one of his most direct attempts yet to publicly reckon with the controversies that have defined much of his recent public life.
What Kanye West said in the apology ad
In the advertisement, Ye wrote that he is “not a Nazi or an antisemite” and said he has “love for Jewish people,” directly addressing accusations that followed a string of inflammatory public statements and imagery in recent years.
He described his past actions as the result of what he called a severe manic episode linked to bipolar disorder, while also stating that his mental health “does not excuse” the harm caused.
“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,” he wrote.
Ye said he is committed to “accountability, treatment and meaningful change.”
The letter also included an apology to people close to him, writing that he treated “some of the people I love the most” poorly, and extended a message to the black community, saying he is “sorry to have let you down.”
“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,” Ye noted.
Ye added that he has been focusing on treatment and what he calls “clean living,” which he said has helped him regain clarity and return to creating “positive, meaningful art.”
Why this apology is significant
The Kanye West apology ad follows a period in which the artist faced intense backlash for antisemitic remarks, public praise of Adolf Hitler and the use of Nazi symbolism.
The ad surfaces months after Ye sold clothing featuring a swastika and released a track that included praise for Hitler, drawing condemnation from political leaders, cultural figures and Jewish organisations.
Some of his business partnerships were severed in response to the controversy.
In the ad, Ye acknowledged using Nazi imagery and says his behaviour caused pain to communities, friends and collaborators.
“It does not excuse what I did though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he added.
How Kanye West’s past controversies led to this moment
Ye’s recent controversies built on a longer history of public incidents that have drawn widespread criticism.
In 2018, he sparked outrage after saying in an interview that slavery sounded “like a choice,” a remark he later attempted to clarify.
He has also drawn criticism for political statements, controversial fashion messaging and social media posts that many viewed as antisemitic.
The escalation of rhetoric in 2022 and 2023 led to suspensions from social media platforms and the collapse of several major brand partnerships, reshaping his public image from chart-topping artist to one of the most polarising figures in entertainment.
In the ad, Ye did not outline specific restitution measures beyond treatment and personal change, but framed the letter as part of an effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships damaged by his past actions.
Whether the apology will shift public perception remains to be seen.
