01-28-2026, 02:19 PM
Ye apologizes, says he's not 'an antisemite' in full-page newspaper ad
Portrait of Edward SegarraEdward Segarra
USA TODAY | Jan. 26, 2026Updated Jan. 27, 2026, 5:17 p.m. ET
Two years after Ye apologized to the Jewish community for his past remarks widely labeled as antisemitic, the disgraced hip-hop mogul is opening up about his controversial behavior in a new full-page ad.
The Grammy-winning rapper and fashion designer, who previously sparked major backlash for making a series of statements broadly considered antisemitic, addressed his rhetoric in an advertisement taken out in The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Jan. 26.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, addressed the open letter ad "to those I've hurt" and detailed a rocky mental health history, including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, that allegedly fueled his behavior.
"My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that," Ye, 48, wrote. "As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime[n] of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity."
![[Image: 88380038007-2223907460.jpg?crop=8255,464...&auto=webp]](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/01/27/USAT/88380038007-2223907460.jpg?crop=8255,4645,x0,y429&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Ye was reportedly diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016, a condition he opened up about on his 2018 self-titled album. The rapper later publicly disputed his diagnosis several times.
The Anti-Defamation League addresses Ye's apology
In a statement to USA TODAY on Jan. 26, a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that the rapper's "apology to the Jewish people is long overdue."
But the organization, which fights all forms of antisemitism and bias, added that it "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."
"The truest apology would be for him to not engage in antisemitic behavior in the future. We wish him well on the road to recovery," the ADL statement concluded.
Ye says he's 'not a Nazi' after swastika T-shirt ad
In a December 2023 Instagram post, Ye apologized to the Jewish community for his antisemitic behavior, saying at the time that he "deeply regret[ted] any pain I may have caused."
However, Ye sparked backlash again in 2025 when the rapper lashed out against Jews in a hateful series of tweets, and took out a Super Bowl ad for a $20 T-shirt featuring a swastika.
"Looking back, I became detached from my true self," Ye wrote in his Wall Street Journal ad. "In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it."
Ye, who said he suffered a "four-month long manic episode" in early 2025, added that he is "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," Ye wrote. "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people."
Looking to the future, Ye said he's been "pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design and other new ideas to help the world."
"I'm not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness," Ye concluded. "I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home."
Ye says brain injury, bipolar disorder contributed to antisemitic remarks.
In 2022, Ye found himself at the center of a career-derailing scandal after making several remarks targeting the Jewish community on social media and in interviews.
In an X post, the outspoken rapper said he would soon go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," while an interview on NewsNation's "Cuomo" saw Ye echo popular antisemitic talking points about Jewish people controlling the entertainment industry and media.
Ye's offensive rhetoric earned swift condemnation across the industry. The Yeezy founder was temporarily suspended from X and Instagram and lost his lucrative apparel partnership with Adidas. In 2025, Ye was reportedly banned from entering Australia after releasing a song celebrating the German chancellor who oversaw the killing of millions of Jews.
In 2022, Ye found himself at the center of a career-derailing scandal after making several remarks targeting the Jewish community on social media and in interviews.
In an X post, the outspoken rapper said he would soon go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," while an interview on NewsNation's "Cuomo" saw Ye echo popular antisemitic talking points about Jewish people controlling the entertainment industry and media.
Ye's offensive rhetoric earned swift condemnation across the industry. The Yeezy founder was temporarily suspended from X and Instagram and lost his lucrative apparel partnership with Adidas. In 2025, Ye was reportedly banned from entering Australia after releasing a song celebrating the German chancellor who oversaw the killing of millions of Jews.
"I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem," Ye continued. "I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation and the exhaustion of trying to love someone who was, at times, unrecognizable."
Mental health experts previously told USA TODAY that while unmanaged mental health conditions can cause people to act in seemingly uncharacteristic ways, mental illness and bigotry are two distinct issues.
"If we assume that every person with mental health issues is racist, that does them a disservice and increases the stigma, which ultimately keeps people from getting help," clinical psychologist Andrea Bonior told USA TODAY.
"And if we assume that every person who spouts off bigoted beliefs has a mental illness, we are turning our backs on the cultural changes that we need to address in terms of implicit bias."
Contributing: Jenna Ryu, Anna Kaufman, Erin Jensen and David Oliver, USA TODAY
Portrait of Edward SegarraEdward Segarra
USA TODAY | Jan. 26, 2026Updated Jan. 27, 2026, 5:17 p.m. ET
Two years after Ye apologized to the Jewish community for his past remarks widely labeled as antisemitic, the disgraced hip-hop mogul is opening up about his controversial behavior in a new full-page ad.
The Grammy-winning rapper and fashion designer, who previously sparked major backlash for making a series of statements broadly considered antisemitic, addressed his rhetoric in an advertisement taken out in The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Jan. 26.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, addressed the open letter ad "to those I've hurt" and detailed a rocky mental health history, including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, that allegedly fueled his behavior.
"My words as a leader in my community have global impact and influence. In my mania, I lost complete sight of that," Ye, 48, wrote. "As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime[n] of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity."
Ye was reportedly diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016, a condition he opened up about on his 2018 self-titled album. The rapper later publicly disputed his diagnosis several times.
The Anti-Defamation League addresses Ye's apology
In a statement to USA TODAY on Jan. 26, a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that the rapper's "apology to the Jewish people is long overdue."
But the organization, which fights all forms of antisemitism and bias, added that it "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."
"The truest apology would be for him to not engage in antisemitic behavior in the future. We wish him well on the road to recovery," the ADL statement concluded.
Ye says he's 'not a Nazi' after swastika T-shirt ad
In a December 2023 Instagram post, Ye apologized to the Jewish community for his antisemitic behavior, saying at the time that he "deeply regret[ted] any pain I may have caused."
However, Ye sparked backlash again in 2025 when the rapper lashed out against Jews in a hateful series of tweets, and took out a Super Bowl ad for a $20 T-shirt featuring a swastika.
"Looking back, I became detached from my true self," Ye wrote in his Wall Street Journal ad. "In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it."
Ye, who said he suffered a "four-month long manic episode" in early 2025, added that he is "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," Ye wrote. "I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people."
Looking to the future, Ye said he's been "pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design and other new ideas to help the world."
"I'm not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness," Ye concluded. "I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home."
Ye says brain injury, bipolar disorder contributed to antisemitic remarks.
In 2022, Ye found himself at the center of a career-derailing scandal after making several remarks targeting the Jewish community on social media and in interviews.
In an X post, the outspoken rapper said he would soon go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," while an interview on NewsNation's "Cuomo" saw Ye echo popular antisemitic talking points about Jewish people controlling the entertainment industry and media.
Ye's offensive rhetoric earned swift condemnation across the industry. The Yeezy founder was temporarily suspended from X and Instagram and lost his lucrative apparel partnership with Adidas. In 2025, Ye was reportedly banned from entering Australia after releasing a song celebrating the German chancellor who oversaw the killing of millions of Jews.
In 2022, Ye found himself at the center of a career-derailing scandal after making several remarks targeting the Jewish community on social media and in interviews.
In an X post, the outspoken rapper said he would soon go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," while an interview on NewsNation's "Cuomo" saw Ye echo popular antisemitic talking points about Jewish people controlling the entertainment industry and media.
Ye's offensive rhetoric earned swift condemnation across the industry. The Yeezy founder was temporarily suspended from X and Instagram and lost his lucrative apparel partnership with Adidas. In 2025, Ye was reportedly banned from entering Australia after releasing a song celebrating the German chancellor who oversaw the killing of millions of Jews.
"I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem," Ye continued. "I said and did things I deeply regret. Some of the people I love the most, I treated the worst. You endured fear, confusion, humiliation and the exhaustion of trying to love someone who was, at times, unrecognizable."
Mental health experts previously told USA TODAY that while unmanaged mental health conditions can cause people to act in seemingly uncharacteristic ways, mental illness and bigotry are two distinct issues.
"If we assume that every person with mental health issues is racist, that does them a disservice and increases the stigma, which ultimately keeps people from getting help," clinical psychologist Andrea Bonior told USA TODAY.
"And if we assume that every person who spouts off bigoted beliefs has a mental illness, we are turning our backs on the cultural changes that we need to address in terms of implicit bias."
Contributing: Jenna Ryu, Anna Kaufman, Erin Jensen and David Oliver, USA TODAY