KanYe Apologizes To Jews After Antisemitic Rant In Las Vegas
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who was named “Antisemite of the Year” in 2022 by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, has issued an apology to the Jewish community on Instagram.
Ye, who changed his legal name in September 2022, posted a photo with Hebrew text on Monday night, following the Christmas holiday. The post expressed regret for his “unplanned outburst” during a concert in Las Vegas earlier in December, where he went on a 10-minute-long rant about various topics, including his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, former President Donald Trump, and his former business partners.
The post also claimed that he did not intend to hurt or disrespect the Jewish community, and that he was committed to learning from his experience and promoting unity. “Your forgiveness is important to me and I am committed to making amends,” the post read.
The post raised questions about whether Ye had used the Christmas season to reflect on his actions and words over the past year, which have drawn criticism and controversy from many quarters. In addition to being accused of antisemitism, Ye has also faced backlash for his erratic behavior, his failed presidential bid, his divorce from Kardashian, and his feud with Drake.
One of the most puzzling aspects of his rant in Las Vegas was his statement that there were “60 million of us in America, 60 million Jews in the world.” This claim was factually incorrect, as the US population was estimated to be 331.9 million in 2021, according to the World Bank, and the Jewish population was reported to be 15.3 million in 2023, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel.
It is unclear what Ye meant by his remark, or whether he was referring to himself as a Jew or an American. Ye has previously identified himself as a Christian, and has released several albums with religious themes, such as Jesus Is King and Donda. He has also expressed admiration for Trump, who was widely supported by evangelical Christians in the US.
Ye’s apology to the Jewish community has received mixed reactions on social media, with some users accepting his gesture and others questioning his sincerity and motives. Some have also pointed out that his post did not address the other issues that he raised in his rant, such as his relationship with Kardashian and his views on Trump.
Ye has not made any further comments on his Instagram account, which has over 7 million followers. His latest album, Donda 2, is expected to be released in early 2024.
