Kanye West Denies That Apology Ad Over Antisemitic Remarks Is ‘About Reviving’ Career Ahead of Album Release

NEED TO KNOW

• Kanye West denied that his apology ad in The Wall Street Journal was about “reviving” his reputation ahead of his album release

• “All of it went too far,” the rapper told Vanity Fair in an interview on Tuesday, Jan. 27

• West’s next album will be called Bully

Kanye West denied that his apology ad in The Wall Street Journal over antisemitic remarks is an attempt to do damage control ahead of his album release.

In an interview with Vanity Fair published Tuesday, Jan. 27, the disgraced rapper and businessman doubled down and claimed that the WSJ apology ad is not “about reviving” his career ahead of the release of his album Bully.

During the conversation, West, 48, claimed that he was “in the top 10 most listened-to artists overall in the US on Spotify in 2025” and that his upcoming album Bully, was “currently one of the most anticipated pre-saves of any album on Spotify too.”

Kanye West in Los Angeles in May 2023

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

“My 2007 album, Graduation, was also the most listened-to and streamed hip-hop album of 2025. This, for me, as evidenced by the letter, isn’t about reviving my commerciality,” he said.

West claimed that his apology ad was “because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.”

“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.”

Added West, “As a public figure, so many people follow and listen to my every word. It’s important that they realize and understand what side of history that I want to stand on. And that is one of love and positivity.”

The “Runaway” musician has made several antisemitic remarks in recent years attacking the Jewish community. In 2022, sportswear brand Adidas ended its partnership with Yeezy after West threatened to go “death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.”

In 2025, West was sued by a former Yeezy employee, who claimed in a complaint that he compared himself to Hitler, threatened her because she was Jewish and fired her one day after she reported his alleged conduct to her supervisor.

In September, West was court-ordered to pay more than $76,000 of the anonymous employee’s legal fees, though the case otherwise remains on hold.

Last year, West also defended Sean “Diddy” Combs (who’s currently in prison after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges in July) and made antisemitic comments on X in a slur-ridden rant praising Adolf Hitler. After said comments, he was dropped by his talent agent, Daniel McCartney of 33&West.

On Monday, Jan. 26, West shared an open letter apology in titled “To Those I’ve Hurt” in a full-page advertisement (paid for by his Yeezy brand) for the WSJ and claimed bipolar disorder caused his erratic behavior and pivot to antisemitism.

In the letter, West claimed that his “fractured state” led him “toward the most destructive symbol I could find, the swastika.”

He called his decision to previously sell merchandise featuring the offensive symbol “poor judgement and reckless behavior,” claiming he “cannot recall” many of those moments due to his bipolar disorder.

“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change,” West wrote in his WSJ open letter. “It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

He then the Black community, “which held me down through all of the highs and lows and the darkest of times.”

West noted that the community is “the foundation of who I am,” and he apologized for letting them down. “I love us,” he said.

Read the original article on People