West—who shares four kid with ex-wife Kim Kardashian—says that amid his mental health struggles, he “lost touch with reality” and “said and did things” he regrets.
“In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it,” he said. “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.”
He continued, “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. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”
The “Runaway” artist went on to share he “fell into a four-month long episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior” in early 2025 which he says “destroyed” his life. After hitting “rock bottom” in recent months, West said his wife Bianca Censori encouraged him to seek help.
Amid these low points, he said, there were occasions he “didn’t want to be here anymore.”
“As I find my new baseline and new center through an effective regime of medication, therapy, exercise, and clean living, I have newfound, much-needed clarity,” he said. “I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world.”
And before signing off his letter “with love,” West concluded, “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness. I write today simply to ask for your patience and understanding as I find my way home.”
This is not the first time West has addressed the swastika T-shirts, which were the only product on the Yeezy website at the time of an ad that aired during the 2025 Super Bowl in at least one marked which saw West encourage fans to go to the website.
One day before the commercial aired, however, he denied claims he’d made the product, writing on X Feb. 8, "I WOULD NEVER SELL A SWASTIKA TEE SHIRT BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD PHYSICALLY HARMED WHILE WEARING IT I LOVE MY FANS AND SUPPORTERS."
While West continues on his path of healing and forgiveness, he isn’t the only celebrity to have gotten candid about their mental health. Read on for more.
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