Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Renowned rapper and designer Kanye West, also known as Ye, has finally issued a formal apology for a series of antisemitic statements and actions that have sparked global controversy over the past few years.
The apology was made public on January 26, 2026, via a full-page advertisement in the leading newspaper, the Wall Street Journal.
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In the advertisement, Kanye West emphatically stated, "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love the Jewish people."
He also acknowledged that he "lost touch with reality" and "regrets and is deeply ashamed of my actions in that situation, and is committed to accountability, healing, and meaningful change."
This apology was directed not only at the Jewish community, but also to the Black community, which he called "the undeniable foundation of who I am," adding, "I am deeply sorry I let you down. I love us."
Kanye West's Explanation of Past Behavior
As reported by DW, Kanye West attributed his past behavior to his bipolar diagnosis and an undiagnosed brain injury.
He explained that the injury to his right frontal lobe occurred after a car accident in 2002.
According to Ye, this injury was not properly diagnosed until 2023, which subsequently led to mental health issues and a diagnosis of bipolar type 1.
Ye also mentioned that in early 2025, he experienced a four-month manic episode that “ruined his life,” during which he felt “lost touch with reality.”
In this “fractured” state, he admitted to being drawn to the most destructive symbol he could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts featuring it.
"In that fractured state, I gravitated towards the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold t-shirts bearing it," Ye wrote, referring to the symbol appropriated by Nazi Germany and modern white supremacists.
Kanye West's Series of Anti-Semitism Controversies
Since 2022, Kanye West has consistently made anti-Semitic and hateful statements that have drawn widespread condemnation.
Here are some of the key incidents that served as the background to his apology:
- October 2022: Ye first attracted negative attention after wearing a controversial “White Lives Matter” T-shirt during a Paris Fashion Week runway show. That same month, he made an antisemitic Instagram post implying that rapper Diddy was controlled by Jews.
- December 2022: In an interview with Alex Jones on “Infowars,” Ye denied the Holocaust, declared himself a Nazi, and said he loved Adolf Hitler.
- February 2025: In a Twitter post, Ye again made antisemitic comments, praising Hitler, and defending rapper Sean Combs against sexual misconduct allegations. He also sold T-shirts with swastika symbols and released a song titled “Heil Hitler.”
- May 2025: Ye briefly declared that he was “done with antisemitism,” and apologized directly to an Orthodox rabbi in November 2025.
Public Reaction and Commitment to Change
Kanye West's apology was met with mixed reactions.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stated that the apology was long overdue and did not automatically erase his long history of antisemitism.
The ADL added that the most sincere apology would be for Ye to refrain from engaging in antisemitic behavior in the future.
"Ye's apology to the Jewish people is long overdue and doesn't automatically undo his long history of antisemitism — the antisemitic 'Heil Hitler' song he created, the hundreds of tweets, the swastikas and myriad Holocaust references — and all of the feelings of hurt and betrayal it caused."
Several other prominent Jewish groups have yet to comment on the apology.
Despite the apology, Ye's record of antisemitism continues to motivate popular antisemitic influencers.
Ye stated that he is undergoing an "effective regimen of medication, therapy, exercise, and a clean lifestyle."
He did not ask for sympathy or a "free pass," but hoped for forgiveness and asked for patience and understanding as he "finds his way back."