Kanye West has issued a public apology for years of antisemitic remarks and actions. The statement appeared as a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal on 26 January 2026. The letter, titled To Those I’ve Hurt, addresses Jewish and Black communities directly.
In the published statement, West rejects accusations of extremism.
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” the letter reads.
The document acknowledges responsibility for past conduct, including the public use of Nazi imagery and the sale of merchandise bearing a swastika.
Medical Context and Accountability
The letter provides a medical explanation for West’s behaviour. It references a 2002 car crash that caused injury to his right frontal lobe and remained undiagnosed for years. It also confirms a bipolar type-one diagnosis in 2023.
“I lost touch with reality,” the letter states.
The apology references a Super Bowl advertisement aired in February 2025 that directed viewers to a website selling a $20 shirt with a swastika. The move prompted swift condemnation from civil rights and Jewish organisations.
The letter also addresses the Black community.
“The Black community is, unquestionably, the foundation of who I am,” it reads. “I am so sorry to have let you down. I love us.”
Countdown to a New Release
The apology concludes with a request for accountability and time.
“I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness,” the letter states.
The statement appears four days before the scheduled release of West’s album Bully, due on 30 January 2026.
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