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By Marni Rose McFall
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Kanye West held a private meeting with a New York Rabbi, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, where he expressed “profound remorse” for antisemitic comments he has made, and sought forgiveness.
The exchange between the rapper, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021, has circulated widely online, after it was shared by Rabbi Pinto on Instagram.
Why It Matters
West has a significant and well-documented history of hate speech, particularly targeting Jewish people. In 2022, he made repeated antisemitic remarks, which led to his being dropped by Adidas, Balenciaga, Vogue magazine, and the talent agency CAA, and he lost his billionaire status overnight.
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West has been repeatedly banned from multiple social media platforms. He has praised Adolf Hitler, gone on multiple antisemitic rants, said that he is a “Nazi,” and promoted a swastika design.
Earlier this year, West released a song titled "Heil Hitler," which was widely condemned upon its release in May and banned from many platforms. The song's release coincided with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which marks the end of World War II.
Hitler, the dictator who led Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945, was central in enacting the genocide of 6 million Jews. Millions of other victims were also killed during the Holocaust, including Black people, Jehovah's Witnesses and disabled people.
Beyond his extensive record on antisemitism, West has faced a number of lawsuits from former employees, which include accusations of alleged sexual harassment and use of racist language. Earlier this year, West said that he has “dominion” over his wife, Bianca Censori, following an appearance at the 2025 Grammy Awards when West’s wife walked the red carpet wearing nothing but a sheer stocking over her naked body, sparking criticism and fears about the dynamics of their relationship.
What To Know
The Instagram post was captioned: “Ye expressed profound remorse for his past statements concerning and about the Jewish people.”
The post detailed that Rabbi Pinto welcomed him “warmly,” and “encouraged him with words of Torah.”
Rabbi Pinto said, according to the Instagram post: “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.”
In the video, West attributed the things he had said to his having been dealing with “various issues” and “bipolar.”
“And I really just appreciate you embracing me with open arms and allowing me to make amends. And this is beginning in the first steps, and the first brick by brick to build, to build back the strong walls,” he said in the video.
What People Are Saying
Rabbi Pinto’s post on Instagram read in part: “Ye came with humility to seek forgiveness and a new chapter of repentance and love among human beings. The meeting concluded with shared hope for a future of respect and unity among nations and faiths, grounded in a commitment to truth and peace. Ye and Rabbi Pinto hope to serve as an example to the world of the power of faith and reconciliation.”
Rabbi Shumley Boteach, in a post on X: “Vile and vomit-inducing whitewash of Hitler-lover Kanye West @ye by @rabbi_pinto. I need to vomit. Kanye did NO repentance. His music praising Hitler remains all over the internet, earning him millions. This is such a vomitous farce and Pinto’s actions are traitorous.”
The Anti-Defamation League wrote in an X post in February: "Another egregious display of antisemitism, racism and misogyny from @kanyewest on his X account this morning. Just a few years ago, ADL found that 30 antisemitic incidents nationwide were tied to Kanye's 2022 antisemitic rants. We condemn this dangerous behavior and need to call it what it is: a flagrant and unequivocal display of hate."
Nicki Minaj, the rapper, wrote on X: “So happy to see Kanye publicly take accountability for the pain his words may have caused to so many. Standing with our Jewish brothers & sisters.”
Yashar Ali, the journalist, in a post on X: “I find the video of Kanye West with Rabbi Pinto to be totally unremarkable. If someone wants to change — particularly someone who has played a significant role in the explosion of Jew hatred globally — it takes years to prove it. That is my personal decision just to be clear, obviously this is a matter ultimately for the Jewish community. I do not believe Kanye has changed; he’s deeply unwell.”
Kanye West, known as Ye, speaking in the video: “‘I feel really blessed to be able to sit with you today and just take accountability. I was dealing with some various issues, bipolar, so it would take the ideas I had and had them, take them to an extreme where I would forget about the protection of the people around me, or myself.”
What Happens Next
Given West’s track record and well-documented volatility, it is unclear how his position in the public eye and how he uses his platform will continue to change over time. West has previously apologized to the Jewish community, only to go on to make offensive and hateful remarks directed at them publicly.
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