Several leading mental health experts have denied that Kanye West is an anti-semitic extremist – and instead claimed that his deeply offensive outbursts against Jewish people last summer were typical of many people with a bipolar diagnosis.
The rapper, 48, who now goes by Ye, sparked global outrage last summer after releasing a song called ‘Heil Hitler’ and selling a swastika T-shirt online. He also made a string of racist social media posts about Jewish people who worked in the music, fashion and media industries.
In January, he ran a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his comments and attributing his actions to untreated bipolar disorder, which he says was triggered in part by a 2002 car crash that caused frontal lobe damage.
West claims the injury went unnoticed until 2023 and caused him to become ‘detached from my true self’ at times.
Since it was announced yesterday that West would not be permitted entry to the UK to perform at this summer’s Wireless Festival, mental health specialists have come out to say West’s explanation is medically credible.
Prof David Curtis, UCL Genetics Institute, said: ‘People with severe bipolar disorder can act in ways completely out of character.
‘They may become impulsive, reckless, or even psychotic. What Ye describes fits perfectly with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and need not reflect latent antisemitism or extremist ideology.’
Dr Sameer Jauhar of Imperial College London added: ‘During a manic episode, it is possible to lose touch with reality entirely. People may do things they would never normally do. This is not an expression of belief – it is illness.’
Experts insist Kanye West’s behaviour last year was the result of severe mental illness, not extremist beliefs
However, not all experts have accepted West’s reasoning for his deeply damaging behaviour.
Bipolar UK emphasised that mania can make people act unrecognisably, but it is a symptom, not a choice. ‘There is no evidence to support the idea that people living with bipolar disorder would express racist or antisemitic ideas while unwell,’ a spokesperson said.
Yesterday, UK Education Secretary Wes Streeting called it ‘appalling’ that West used bipolar disorder ‘to justify his actions’, while Labour leader Keir Starmer said it was ‘deeply concerning’ he had been booked in the UK – to perform at the now cancelled Wireless Festival in London – despite his past antisemitic statements.
What is bipolar disorder?
Prof David Curtis explains that bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness marked by extreme mood swings, from periods of depression to episodes of high energy or mania.
Some people may also experience psychosis, including delusions or hallucinations, though between episodes, mental health is often normal.
Severity varies widely – while some people have relatively mild symptoms, others can act in ways completely out of character, with impulsive, reckless, or even dangerous behaviour.
Can a brain injury trigger bipolar disorder?
West claims a head injury contributed to his bipolar disorder. Experts say traumatic brain injuries can alter mood, behaviour and judgement – but most people with head trauma do not develop bipolar disorder.
Former Olympic champion James Cracknell described a similar transformation after a 2010 crash: ‘When I came out of intensive care, I wasn’t me any more.
‘My friends and family said my entire personality had changed. My short-term memory was gone. I couldn’t make decisions. Had no motivation.’
Research supports the link. A 2024 Swedish study found traumatic brain injury increases the risk of bipolar disorder, especially with severe injury, later age and in women.
A 2014 Danish study of over 110,000 people found head injuries were associated with a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly bipolar.
Experts caution, however, that brain trauma is just one factor; genetics, stress, sleep disruption and substance use also play a role.
Former Olympic champion James Cracknell has also spoken about how he underwent an extreme personality change after a road accident that almost killed him in 2010.
What causes bipolar disorder?
Experts say bipolar disorder arises from multiple factors, including childhood trauma, brain chemistry, family history and major life stress.
Relationship breakdowns, financial troubles, bullying, or major life events can trigger episodes.
Heavy drinking, recreational drugs and prolonged sleep disruption also increase risk.
Diagnosis and treatment
Bipolar disorder is diagnosed clinically based on recurring mood episodes.
Depression can bring persistent low mood, fatigue, poor concentration and sleep problems, while mania can involve high energy, impulsivity, risky decisions and psychosis – hallucinations or delusions.
Treatments include mood stabilisers, antipsychotics and talking therapies, with lifestyle management around sleep, exercise and routines helping reduce relapse risk.
Could you be at risk?
Bipolar disorder can affect anyone but some factors make it more likely.
These include having a close relative with the condition, a history of significant childhood trauma or major life stress, alongside disrupted sleep.
Recreational drugs and alcohol can also destabilise mood and a serious head injury may increase risk too, particularly if it’s followed by lasting behavioural changes or thinking and memory issues.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you have extreme changes in your moods that last a long time or impact your everyday life, if you’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treatments are not helping.
