Fans Call Bluff On Kanye West's Insistence That Apology Isn't Tied To Album Drop

Kanye West recently stunned the public with an apology to the Black and Jewish communities for sharing harmful rhetoric over the last few years. In his statement, the "Graduation" rapper pointed to his bipolar disorder as the reason for his "manic" episodes.

However, some social media users appeared unmoved by the rapper's statements, suggesting he'd continue making problematic and controversial statements down the line. Other users suggested the father of four was only apologizing to help boost his streaming numbers ahead of the release of his next album, "BULLY."

In a new interview, Kanye West fired back at the people who said he's only apologizing to stay relevant. According to Kanye, now going by the name Ye, he apologized because he felt genuine regret over things he'd said and the harm he'd caused people. His updated statements, though, are still causing mixed reactions from fans, many of whom are split down the middle on how to move forward.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ye shot down the above suggestions, insisting his apology had nothing to do with "reviving" his career and claiming he didn't need help with streams because he was in the "top 10" most-listened-to artists in the US on Spotify in 2025.

The rapper also asserted that his upcoming album, "BULLY," scheduled for release in January 2026, was "currently one of the most anticipated pre-saves of any album on Spotify too."

Ye said that his apology to the Jewish and Black communities stemmed from feeling "remorseful" over his previous comments and behaviors. "I owe a huge apology once again for everything that I said that hurt the Jewish and Black communities in particular," he said. "All of it went too far. I look at wreckage of my episode and realize that this isn’t who I am."

Ye has made headlines over the last few years after his social media posts featuring offensive language went viral. According to NBC News, the rapper once made a slew of posts in February 2025, calling himself a "Nazi" and announcing his love for "Hitler."

In another post, Ye doubled down on his antisemitic comments, writing, "I’m never apologizing for my Jewish comments. I can say whatever the f--- I wanna say forever. Where’s my f------ apology for freezing my accounts."

Ye's reckless comments didn't end there. The 48-year-old went further, declaring that Jewish people no longer have a hold on him. He then transitioned to speaking about people close to him, saying, "Some of my best friends are Jewish and I don’t trust any of them."

Ye's posts led to the end of his working relationship with the sportswear brand Adidas, according to PEOPLE. His talent manager also dropped him as a client.

In a new letter, Ye addressed his past comments, admitting he "lost touch with reality." He explained that he "deeply regret[s]" his words and the fact that they hurt the people he loves "the most."

Ye explained that his bipolar disorder left him in a "fractured state" that caused him to align with "destructive" symbols like the swastika.

Despite that, the rapper stated he is not a "Nazi" or an "antisemite," adding, "I love Jewish people."

According to The Blast, social media users seem skeptical of Ye's initial apology, slamming the rapper for allegedly pretending to be remorseful for album sales.

Some users maintained those feelings, arguing that Ye didn't actually mean what he said.

"He'll be back to telling us off next month," a user wrote, while another said, "Ye calling us sl-ves next month."

A third user said, "Yea I ain’t buying it, this is like what the 4th time apologizing then him making a h*tler song cmon now."

The reactions weren't all bad, as some said they didn't "care" about the rapper's offensive comments. "You gotta be a little crazy to make good art," someone shared.

"I love Ye! Leave him be!! He wasn't well," a second user shared, while a third added that they "miss" the old Ye.

A passionate user also came to Ye's defense, saying his bipolar disorder was largely to blame for his past antics.

"People say, 'next month he’s gonna say this, yeah, that’s what bipolar disorder is," they commented. "Often times [sic] it’s hard for them to get treatment because they genuinely don’t think there’s anything wrong with them especially during a manic episode."