Rapper Kanye West has admitted that he suffers from bipolar disorder, which he says contributed to a series of harmful actions in the past, including racist behavior.

In an apology published on an advertising page of The Wall Street Journal on January 26, West—also known as Ye—addressed those he has hurt in recent years. The 49-year-old artist said he is currently undergoing treatment for a brain-related condition after experiencing what he described as a “four-month manic episode marked by psychotic, delusional, and impulsive behavior” that “destroyed” his life last year.

According to Ye, the letter was written for people he had wronged. He began by recounting a car accident in 2002, before he became a global superstar, which caused frontal lobe injuries that were not properly diagnosed until 2023. He believes medical missteps severely affected his mental health, eventually leading to a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. “When you’re in it, you feel like you see the world more clearly than ever, but in reality, you’re completely out of control,” he wrote.

Citing Cleveland Clinic, bipolar disorder is a condition that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. People with bipolar I disorder often experience manic episodes—characterized by unusual euphoria, irritability, or extreme thoughts and actions—often alternating with periods of depression.

West said the most frightening aspect of the disorder is that it convinces sufferers they do not need help, leaving them disconnected from reality while believing they are powerful and enlightened. Ignoring the condition, he said, led him to mistreat those he loved. Reflecting on his past, he wrote that he had become “alienated from himself.”

In the letter, West also addressed his past antisemitic remarks and expressions of support for fascist ideology, which in recent years led to widespread backlash and severed brand partnerships. He expressed remorse and shame, stating that while his illness impaired his judgment, it does not excuse his actions. “I am not a fascist or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he wrote, also apologizing to the Black community for past statements and behavior.

West credited his wife, architect Bianca Censori, with encouraging him to seek help before reaching “rock bottom.” He said he also found comfort reading stories on Reddit from people facing similar mental health struggles. Through medication, therapy, exercise, and a healthier lifestyle, he claims to have regained clarity and is now focusing on positive artistic projects in music and fashion.

“I am not asking for sympathy or for my mistakes to be erased,” West concluded. “I am simply asking for patience and understanding as I find my way back.”

According to Variety, West released the statement ahead of the launch of his long-anticipated new album Bully, scheduled for release on January 30.