Ye — the artist once known globally as Kanye West — has taken out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal to issue one of the most detailed apologies of his controversial public life, addressing the antisemitic statements and behavior that damaged his reputation in recent years.

Published Monday as an open letter titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” the apology frames Ye’s past actions through the lens of long-standing personal and mental health struggles. In the piece, he explains that a 2002 car accident that broke his jaw also caused a traumatic brain injury, which he says went undiagnosed and later complicated his bipolar type-1 disorder — conditions he now says influenced erratic and harmful behavior, including offensive remarks targeting Jewish people.

“In that fractured state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika,” Ye writes, acknowledging that he even sold shirts bearing the symbol at the height of his public unraveling. He says he is “deeply mortified” by those actions and insists that he is neither a Nazi nor antisemitic, adding, “I love Jewish people.”

The ad, paid for by Ye’s Yeezy brand and published on the back page of The Wall Street Journal’s A section, attempts to contextualize years of controversial outbursts that included public praise of Adolf Hitler and social-media posts widely condemned as antisemitic. Ye’s spiraling rhetoric, particularly in 2022 and 2025, led to widespread backlash and severed business relationships, including the termination of major partnerships.

Ye also directly addresses the Black community in the letter, calling it “the foundation of who I am” and expressing regret for letting down the people who supported him throughout his career.

Mental health is a central theme of his apology. Ye writes that denial during manic episodes made him oblivious to the harm he was causing, and that only after seeking help through therapy, medication, and support networks has he begun to understand the extent of his actions. He says he is committed to accountability and “meaningful change,” though he does not ask for sympathy.

The apology comes as Ye prepares to release new music, with his 12th studio album Bully reportedly scheduled for release later this month, according to streaming platform listings.