In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Kanye is making it very clear that his latest apology to the Black and Jewish communities isn’t a PR stunt at all.
He said to the outlet,
“It’s my understanding that I was in the top 10 most listened-to artists overall in the US on Spotify in 2025, and last week and most days as well. My upcoming album, Bully, is currently one of the most anticipated pre-saves of any album on Spotify too. My 2007 album, Graduation, was also the most listened-to and streamed hip-hop album of 2025.”
Ye continued,
“This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn’t about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.”
As we previously reported, the rapper and business mogul kicked off the new week by issuing a lengthy apology for his past remarks that nearly got him canceled.
In a full-page ad published in The Wall Street Journal, the controversial artist shared a deeply personal statement attempting to explain the behavior that nearly ended his career. In the message, Kanye blamed a long-undiagnosed brain injury and ongoing mental health struggles for what he described as “poor judgment and reckless behavior” over the last several years.
According to Kanye, a car accident from 25 years ago caused damage to the right frontal lobe of his brain, an injury he says went undiagnosed until 2023. He explained that while doctors focused on his broken jaw and visible trauma at the time, no comprehensive neurological exams were conducted to assess internal damage. That oversight, he claims, played a major role in the deterioration of his mental health and ultimately led to his bipolar type-1 diagnosis.
In the letter, Kanye detailed how bipolar disorder manifests, particularly during manic episodes, describing denial, distorted reality, and an inflated sense of certainty that makes someone believe they don’t need help. He also addressed the stigma surrounding mental illness, writing that once people label you as “crazy,” they assume you no longer have anything meaningful to contribute. He cited data from the World Health Organization and Cambridge University, showing that people with bipolar disorder have significantly shortened life expectancy and higher mortality rates.
Kanye didn’t shy away from addressing the most disturbing chapter of his recent past. He openly acknowledged embracing Nazi symbolism, including selling T-shirts featuring swastikas, calling those actions “deeply mortifying.” He attributed those decisions to what he described as dissociative moments during manic episodes, some of which he says he cannot fully recall. Still, he made it clear that mental illness does not excuse his behavior.
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he wrote, taking direct responsibility while expressing regret and committing to treatment and accountability moving forward.
He also issued a direct apology to the Black community, acknowledging the role it has played in supporting him throughout his career. Kanye admitted that his actions caused disappointment and pain, saying he felt especially ashamed for letting down the very community that helped shape his identity and success. He revealed that in early 2025, he experienced a four-month manic episode marked by paranoia, psychosis, and impulsive behavior, which he says ultimately “destroyed” his life and left him at times not wanting to be alive.
While we’ve seen many apologies from Kanye in the past, fans are now questioning whether he can put real action behind his words.