LOS ANGELES – The rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, issued an apology in Hebrew to the Jewish community on Dec 26 for his past anti-Semitic remarks, saying he sought forgiveness and regretted any pain that his words had caused.
His apology, posted to X, follows reports that the release of his new album, Vultures, has been delayed until January. The release has been pushed back several times from its original date in October 2023.
The artiste sparked outrage in 2022 with his anti-Semitic social media posts, including one that appeared to accuse musician Sean “Diddy” Combs of being controlled by “the Jewish people” and another that appeared to show a swastika symbol inside a Star of David.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) advocacy group, which documents anti-Semitism, had described the musician’s remarks as inflammatory and conspiratorial. It said he was directly referenced in 59 anti-Semitic incidents tracked by the group during 2022.
“I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community for any unplanned outburst... It was not my intent to hurt or disrespect, and I very much regret any pain I may have caused,” the musician wrote on Instagram in Hebrew.
The ADL welcomed the rapper’s apology while noting the impact of his past remarks. “Ultimately, actions will speak louder than words, but this initial act of contrition is welcome,” the ADL said in a statement.
After Ye went on a string of anti-Semitic rants in interviews and on social media, he lost his partnership with Adidas and Gap for Yeezy products.
His remarks also led to restrictions on his social media accounts at the time.
“I am committed to begin with myself and to learn from this experience in order to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future.
“Your forgiveness is important to me,” Ye wrote, adding that he was committed to making amends and advancing unity.
The rapper’s comments on social justice issues have also sparked controversy, including in 2022 when he used a racial slur against South African comedian Trevor Noah.
The same year, he wore a shirt with the words “White Lives Matter” at Paris Fashion Week. REUTERS
