Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, has issued a public apology for his past antisemitic remarks and other controversial behavior in a full-page advertisement in the January 26th edition of The Wall Street Journal. The ad, titled "To Those I've Hurt," sees Ye reflecting on a "four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour" and his struggles with mental health.

In the open letter, Ye attributes his actions, in part, to a frontal-lobe injury he says he sustained in a 2002 car accident. He claims the injury went undiagnosed for over two decades, only being properly identified in 2023, and that this "medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis". Ye also writes that bipolar disorder comes with a "defense system," denial, and that during manic episodes, sufferers often don't believe they are sick, feeling instead that they see the world more clearly. He adds, "I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret".

Ye's past controversial actions include declaring he was a Nazi, praising Adolf Hitler, and creating an anti-Semitic song titled "Heil Hitler". He also faced backlash for suggesting slavery was "a choice" and for wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that his rhetoric incited incidents of vandalism and harassment. Recently, a Miami Beach nightclub faced criticism for playing his song "Heil Hitler". In the WSJ ad, Ye says he "gravitated toward the most destructive symbol" he could find, the swastika, while in a fractured state.

Ye writes in the apology that he is not a Nazi or an antisemite and that he loves Jewish people. He also expresses regret and mortification for his actions, committing to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change. Ye claims he still cannot recall many of the "disconnected moments" amid his mental health struggles, and that he regrets and is deeply mortified by his actions in that state. Ye also apologized to the Black community, acknowledging their foundational role in his life.

The ADL told NBC News that Ye's apology is long overdue and doesn't undo his history of antisemitism, including the "Heil Hitler" song, hundreds of tweets, swastikas, Holocaust references, and the hurt and betrayal they caused.

Ye concludes his letter by saying, "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". He also acknowledged the impact of his words as a leader and influencer, admitting he lost sight of that during his manic episode.

The publication of the apology coincides with the upcoming release of Ye's new album.