In a lengthy advertisement published as the back page of the print edition of the Wall Street Journal, rapper and designer Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) again attempts to make amends for his mistakes and offer a public explanation for the antisemitic comments and actions that, in recent years, cost him the support of giants like Adidas, Balenciaga, and their agency of talents.

Addressing “those I hurt,” Ye doesn't simply apologize. Instead, he traces a causal link that he says explains his erratic and damaging behavior: a 2002 car accident that fractured his jaw and, he claims, caused an undiagnosed injury to the right frontal lobe of his brain.

Ye describes how, in the aftermath of the accident, attention was focused on his visible injuries, while the brain injury “went unnoticed.” He notes that he didn't receive an accurate diagnosis of that brain injury until 2023, and links this neurological damage to his struggle with bipolar I disorder, officially diagnosed in 2016.

“Bipolar disorder has its own defense system: denial,” Ye wrote. “When you're manic, you don't believe you're sick… You feel like you see the world more clearly than ever before, when in reality you're losing control completely.”

The artist acknowledges that this condition can be “persuasive,” generating a sense of power and invulnerability that makes it almost impossible to accept the need for help.

What else does Ye say in his letter?

The rapper admitted to having “lost touch with reality” and having “become disconnected from his true self.” He directly addressed some of his most controversial episodes, such as his attraction to “the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika,” his comments praising Adolf Hitler on social media, and the release of a song titled “Heil Hitler.”

“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state,” he stated, although he clarified that “this does not justify what I did.” Furthermore,He addressed the communities he harmed: "I am not a Nazi or an anti-Semite. I love the Jewish people," he declared,and apologized to the Black community, which he called “the foundation of who I am.” The letter also puts into context the deterioration of his personal and professional relationships, such as his broken friendship with John Legend and his separation from Kim Kardashian in 2021, years after his bipolar diagnosis. Ye shared that a recent “four-month manic episode,” which he described as psychotic and paranoid, led him to seek solace and understanding on Reddit forums, where he felt less alone reading stories from others with similar conditions. The artist concludes his letter announcing that he is finding a “new center” through medication, therapy, exercise, and a clean lifestyle. "I am not asking for pity or a free pass, although I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I am writing today simply to ask for your patience and understanding while I find my way home," I concluded. With these statements, it seems that Ye is trying to continue his musical career and also please his fans. In fact, he has two concerts scheduled for January 30th and 31st of this year at the Monumental Plaza de Toros Mexico, an iconic venue in Mexico.