American rapper Kanye West, who now goes by the name Ye, has expressed deep remorse for his past antisemitic comments during a private meeting with a well-known Jewish cleric in New York.
Ye met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, the head of the Shuva Israel institutions, where he publicly acknowledged his mistakes and offered an apology to the Jewish community.
A video of the encounter, held on Tuesday, was posted on the rabbi’s social media pages on Thursday, capturing the rapper’s emotional moment of accountability.
“I feel really blessed to sit here and take accountability,” Ye said as he held the rabbi’s hands. “I was dealing with various issues, including bipolar disorder. I took some of my ideas and forgot about the protection of the people around me and myself. So I wanted to take accountability.”
Ye likened his efforts to mend relationships to “cleaning up a house” after a child’s mess, noting that he is ready to repair the harm caused by his past words.
“It’s like I’ve got to clean up the kitchen, the living room, and the garage,” he said. “These are the first steps, brick by brick to build strong walls and repair my relationship with the Jewish community.”
Rabbi Pinto, reacting to the meeting, praised Ye’s sincerity and willingness to make amends. “A person is not defined by his mistakes, but by the way he chooses to correct them. This is the true strength of man: the ability to return, to learn, and to build bridges of love and peace,” he stated.
Ye’s apology comes years after his 2022 antisemitic outbursts, including a controversial tweet where he declared he would go “death con 3” on Jewish people. The remarks led to widespread condemnation and prompted major brands such as Adidas, Balenciaga, Gap, and Universal Music Group to end their partnerships with him.
