Ye Apologizes to Rabbi for Antisemitic Remarks

Kanye West, the rapper and designer who now uses the name Ye, met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto in New York on Tuesday to apologize for a series of antisemitic remarks that have drawn widespread condemnation over the past two years.

During the private meeting, footage of which was shared on the rabbi's Instagram account, Ye held hands with Pinto and expressed remorse for his past statements. "I feel really blessed to be able to sit here with you today and just take accountability," Ye said, according to the video. He attributed his earlier comments to his bipolar disorder, explaining that it amplified his ideas to extremes and led him to overlook the harm to others. "Sometimes people aren't that knowledgeable about bipolar and what causes it, or the way you act when you have this disease," he added. Ye used an analogy to describe his sense of responsibility: "It's like if you left the house and left your kid at the house and your kid went and messed up the kitchen and messed up the garage, mess up the living room. Now, when you get back, it's your responsibility, because that's your child."

Pinto, an Orthodox rabbi with ties to Israel and a following among celebrities,...