Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, took a significant step toward reconciliation on Monday (Jan. 26) by publishing a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal. Following this public display of contrition, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued a formal response to the rapper’s outreach.
In his paid advertisement, the hip-hop mogul expressed profound remorse for his “reckless behavior” and his role in amplifying antisemitic rhetoric over the past several years. Addressing the gesture, a spokesperson for the ADL told Billboard that while the apology is “long overdue,” words alone cannot erase the rapper’s history of promoting hate.
The ADL clarified that a single letter does not “automatically undo” a sustained pattern of antisemitism. The organization pointed to the “Heil Hitler” track Ye produced, his numerous offensive social media posts, the use of swastika imagery, and a litany of Holocaust references, all of which inflicted deep pain and a sense of betrayal upon the Jewish community.
“The truest apology would be for him to refrain from antisemitic behavior in the future,” the representative added. “We wish him well on his journey toward recovery.”
The statement from the ADL—an organization dedicated to eradicating bias and hate—comes just as readers encountered Ye’s comprehensive message in the WSJ. In the text, the artist attributed his past actions to mental health struggles exacerbated by a traumatic brain injury sustained during a major car accident. He described a “fractured state” of mind that led him to adopt destructive ideologies.
“In that state, I gravitated toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika, and even sold T-shirts bearing it,” Ye wrote. He expressed that he is “deeply mortified” and is now dedicated to a rigorous path of accountability and treatment. “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he asserted, while clarifying that his health struggles do not excuse his past conduct.
Ye further noted that he is adhering to a rehabilitative lifestyle involving therapy, medication, and physical exercise. He emphasized that he is not seeking a “free pass” or unearned sympathy, but rather hopes to eventually earn forgiveness through his actions.
This public statement represents Ye’s most substantive effort at rebranding since early 2025, when he initially claimed on social media that he was “done with antisemitism.” That claim followed a video apology directed at a rabbi in late 2024. However, the road to redemption remains steep; the ADL previously expressed skepticism regarding his turnaround, citing his “White Lives Matter” fashion controversy and his infamous “death con 3” threats from 2022.
At the time of his initial pivot away from hate speech, the ADL noted that repairing the immense damage caused by his rhetoric would require far more than a few social media updates.
