Why Kanye West Struggled More After His Split From Kim Kardashian

For years, Kanye West’s personal life and public behavior have fueled relentless speculation.

However, insiders now say his most dramatic unraveling did not happen overnight.

Instead, it followed the collapse of his marriage to Kim Kardashian, removing a stabilizing force that had quietly kept his struggles in check and delaying consequences that would later explode into public view.

In the years following his divorce from Kim Kardashian, Kanye West found himself increasingly shut out of spaces he once dominated.

Major brands severed ties, industry invitations dried up, and even longtime supporters grew distant.

As his isolation deepened, West embraced conspiracy-driven narratives that shocked observers and alienated allies.

At one point, he claimed, “The Jewish media blocked me out. This is not hate speech, this is the truth.”

The fallout intensified when he praised Nazis, wore swastikas, and released the song “Heil Hitler,” which resulted in bans from Australia and Brazil.

Touring opportunities collapsed, income streams vanished, and much of the Western world effectively closed its doors to him.

Yet behind the scenes, some close to West insist his public posture masked a more conflicted internal state that few outsiders saw clearly.

Despite the condemnation, those close to Kanye West point to moments that suggested remorse long before his recent high-profile apology.

In November, he was filmed privately apologizing to New York Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto during a closed-door meeting, a moment that passed largely unnoticed at the time.

Friends who know him best argue that his most extreme public statements do not fully reflect who he is in private.

One source told the Daily Mail, “He’s not antisemitic,” before adding, “He’s not even greedy. He dresses very humbly. He has [a] few objects. He’s kind. He has compassion.”

Another insider described the contradiction more bluntly.

They said, “It’s a shame. He pretends to be so bad, but it’s really unfortunate. He wants to pretend to be such a bad guy, but he’s not.”

Still, even sympathetic voices acknowledge that the damage caused by his behavior has been real and far-reaching.

According to insiders, the period after West’s marriage to Kim Kardashian ended marked a sharp turn.

Without a stabilizing presence, West’s mental state reportedly deteriorated, and his private rhetoric darkened.

“Ye would start talking about Jews when he was spiraling,” one insider said.

The same source explained the pattern more clearly. “If he wasn’t spiraling, he wasn’t antisemitic, or at least he didn’t say it out loud. But when he was in a spiral, he’d say things privately.”

Friends say attempts to challenge those beliefs often went nowhere.

“I tried to explain things to him, and other people have tried too. His big one has always been that the Jews killed Jesus,” the insider said.

They added that during his worst periods, “When he was feeling antisemitic, that was a go-to for him: ‘Well, the Jews killed Jesus, so they’re evil.’”

Those close to him say these moments became more frequent as his mental health declined.

For years, insiders say West’s volatility was quietly managed by Kim Kardashian.

“With Ye, you never know what you’re going to get,” one source explained. “It was clear that he was bipolar; we all know that. But it got worse over the years.”

According to those familiar with their dynamic, Kardashian took an active role in maintaining his treatment.

“Kim kept Ye on his meds,” a source said. “She would remind him, she would make sure the prescriptions were filled. She would take care of doctors’ appointments. She’d do all that.”

West often resisted those efforts. “He hated all that; it bothered him to be on meds. He would say that he didn’t feel like himself, and especially that he couldn’t create. But Kim kept that going, kept him in check.”

Friends say that the structure helped prevent even more severe public episodes.

When the marriage finally ended in 2021, the system holding West together unraveled quickly.

“That’s why things collapsed when they finally split up,” a friend said. “He stopped taking meds, and he stopped cold turkey. He didn’t take them, and that’s when things got really strange for him.”

The breakdown spilled into public conflict, with Kim Kardashian denouncing her ex-husband while West accused her of keeping him from his children and launched erratic social-media attacks.

The strain took a heavy toll on both sides. Recently, however, insiders say tensions have eased slightly.

“From what I understand from Ye, things are better there,” one friend said. “They’re being more communicative and cordial. I wouldn’t say amicable, but I’d say that she’s making sure he can see his kids when he wants, and she’s trying to do right by him. That’s my perspective.”

As Kanye West attempts to rebuild, those closest to him remain cautious, aware that his divorce marked the moment when everything became harder to contain.