Kanye West is one of the most polarizing figures of the early 21st century. From a musical genius and a fashion ambassador, to pop culture icon and member of the Kardashian family, he’s one of the most known names in America. However, with his recent comments attacking people of color and Jewish people, it poses a new question: What is wrong with Kanye West?

Kanye’s mental health has been a topic of discussion for decades at this point, with him announcing his diagnosis with bipolar disorder in 2018, his mental breakdowns in 2009 at the VMA’s and during the Saint Pablo tour in 2016, his monumental presidential campaign and his numerous Twitter rants in between. 

Recently however (post 2018), I think he’s taken it to another level, with attacks towards many communities. 

In 2018, he did his first open attack of the Black community, going to TMZ headquarters and saying the now iconic phrase: “When you hear about slavery for 400 years … For 400 years? That sounds like a choice.” 

The backlash was heavy, with new outlets everywhere labeling him as a racist, an idiot or just generally insensitive. His response, in perfect Kanye fashion, “It was just an idea. [O]nce again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas,” which is the Kanye way to say: “I’m right, you’re wrong, get over it.” 

He retreated to Cody, Wyo. and later went on his biggest Twitter rant to date, in which he attacked his wife Kim Kardashian, his mother in law Kris Jenner, Meek Mill and reaffirmed his support of Donald Trump. At this time he also got diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs. It’s extremely common in the United States with over three million people a year being diagnosed with it. 

Many of West’s actions can be attributed to the disorder; however, I believe bipolar disorder is not an exclusive excuse for his behavior. Kanye West is a narcissist, and the minute he feels he’s no longer getting attention or having his voice heard, he acts out. I feel like we’re too quick to defend him due to the level of creative genius he has. He is in a mental health crisis and needs serious help, but instead, we laugh and he becomes a public spectacle.

After being banned from Instagram due to attacks on Adidas executive Pete Davidson (who was romantically involved with Kim Kardashian) and promotion of White Lives Matter, he went to Twitter. 

“When I wake up I’m going death con 3 on Jewish people,” was the first post he made on Twitter. Not even a week after that, he went on the podcast “Drink Champs” saying George Floyd’s death had zero to do with convicted officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on his neck for eight minutes, and instead: “They hit him with the fentanyl. If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” resulting in his Twitter account being restricted from him.

And the icing on the cake: after saying on “Drink Champs”, “I can say anti-semetic s*** and Adidas can’t drop me, what now?” Adidas dropped him on Oct. 25, 2022. His net worth promptly fell from two billion to an estimated 400 million.

That isn’t just “Oh Kanye is being bipolar again”, I believe this is his attention seeking behaviors appearing in horrible ways. He is an example of what happens when you give fame, money and influence to someone without anyone to help guide them. It’s imperative that we get him around people who love and care for him, who can provide for him guidance about how to talk to people in healthy ways. The best thing we can do for Kanye now is to take his platform of hate, which may help him to get the help he desperately needs.