Kanye West Sparks ‘Social Anxiety’ Chatter After Awkward On Stage Moment With Comedian Pal

After keeping a low profile, Kanye West has made a recent public appearance, but this has left fans talking. 

The “Runaway” rapper, also known as Ye, has long faced scrutiny over his mental health. However, his latest onstage behavior has reignited speculation, with some suggesting he may be struggling with “social anxiety.”

Meanwhile, reports suggest he is grappling with financial woes and relying on unconventional loans to stay afloat.

Deon Cole wrapped up his recent set at Hollywood Improv by inviting West onstage, later sharing the encounter on Instagram. In the clip, West shook hands with Cole, who then asked him, “Did you have a good time? Did you laugh? Like, not no fake laugh.” West simply smiled and nodded in response. 

Cole pressed further, joking, "You wouldn't give me no sympathy laugh? You was, like, busting the f-ck up?" Again, West shook his head while glancing around.

The comedian then teased West's demeanor, asking, "Why your body language ain't showing bust-the-f-ck-up body language? You up there like, 'Hmm. Yeah.'"

Cole thanked the 48-year-old rapper for attending, but West remained silent, prompting Cole to quip that they were having a “healthy conversation.”

When the “Grownish” alum asked West about any upcoming project, West briefly answered, "a new album," sparking cheers from the crowd. Cole then joked he would like to be featured on the interlude, prompting West to smile again.  

After Cole shared the video, fans were quick to weigh in on West's onstage demeanor, with many offering their own theories about what they saw.

One fan remarked, “You definitely put him on the spot. He probably has social anxiety or something.” Another described the exchange as "awkward as hell," while a third joked, "Awkward meets awkward."

Others expressed surprise at West's behavior. “Bro, what happened to Ye bro!!! That man looks like this is his first time on earth,” one person wrote. Another commented that he was "acting like the slow cousin," while someone else quipped, "I don't think they let his clone cook long enough."

 One viewer even admitted they initially thought the clip was Al. On the other hand, some fans felt the rapper appeared to be improving. "You can tell he's gettin better, he's been quiet way too long,” one supporter wrote, while a second added, "Good. He's back on his meds."

West's latest public appearance comes shortly after reports that he obtained a multi-million-dollar mortgage tied to the headquarters of his fashion brand.

According to The Blast, West used the Melrose Avenue building, largely vacant since late 2023, to secure a $3.465 million loan through Rediger Investment Mortgage Fund.

Reports suggest he turned to the alternative lender after traditional banks declined to work with him. West had purchased the property for $6.3 million in March 2023, near Adidas’ offices, before the company cut ties with him over his antisemitic remarks.

Another of West’s appearances that alarmed fans took place in November, as one of his responses during an interview sparked worries about his well-being.

Per The Blast, West was interviewed by Ajay, who introduced himself before passing the microphone to the rapper, who then identified himself as "Ye from Chi."

When asked to rate his outfit on a scale of 1 to 10, West confidently declared his looks are always "10 out of 10." He highlighted that he was wearing the original Yeezy 950 boots, while the rest of his ensemble came from a pop-up store he had recently visited.

The mood shifted when Ajay asked which fashion trend he regretted joining. After a long pause and a solemn nod, the “Carnival” rapper gave an unexpected answer: "Life."

The moment unsettled many fans, with one commenting, "The pain in his eyes when he said 'life!'"

West recently spoke about his mental health, linking his struggles to the antisemitic remarks, which he later apologized for during a November meeting with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto.

According to The Blast, the "Donda" rapper thanked the rabbi and explained that his behavior stemmed from his battle with bipolar disorder.

"I was dealing with various issues, bipolar also, so it would take the ideas I had and push them to an extreme where I would forget about protecting the people around me, or myself," he said.