Kanye West’s widely publicized apology addressing his history of antisemitism has now prompted a response from the Anti-Defamation League. Speaking to Billboard, a spokesperson for the organization said, “Ye's apology to the Jewish people is long overdue.”
Even so, the group made it clear that acknowledging the statement does not mean everything has been forgiven. “[It] doesn’t automatically undo his long history of antisemitism,” the spokesperson explained. They pointed to the “antisemitic ‘Heil Hitler’ song he created, the hundreds of tweets, the swastikas and myriad Holocaust references — and all of the feelings of hurt and betrayal it caused” as reasons why caution remains.
The Anti-Defamation League went on to outline what real accountability would look like moving forward. “The truest apology would be for him to not engage in antisemitic behavior in the future.”
“We wish him well on the road to recovery,” the statement concluded.
So what exactly did the Chicago native say himself? In a recent edition of the Wall Street Journal, Ye purchased a full page advertisement to publicly express remorse for his past behavior and remarks.
The apology is extensive, with West linking much of his conduct to a serious car accident that he says caused lasting physical and psychological harm. Reflecting on that period, he wrote, “The deeper injury, the one inside my skull, went unnoticed. Comprehensive scans were not done, neurological exams were limited, and the possibility of a frontal-lobe injury was never raised. It wasn’t properly diagnosed until 2023. That medical oversight caused serious damage to my mental health and led to my bipolar type-1 diagnosis.”
In broader terms, West portrays the past few years as deeply destabilizing, saying he felt “detached from my true self.” He also revealed that he experienced suicidal thoughts during that time, underscoring how severe his struggles had become.
Still, he insists he is committed to real change. While acknowledging that forgiveness cannot be immediate, he emphasized that he is focused on rebuilding his life. Toward the end of the apology, he wrote, “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. I am pouring my energy into positive, meaningful art: music, clothing, design, and other new ideas to help the world. 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.”
