What’s Happening to Kanye West? The Mental Health Issues That ‘Explain’ His Scandals

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Kanye West, the renowned rapper and producer, has been at the center of numerous controversies in recent months, prompting discussions about his mental health. These incidents have shed light on his personal struggles and have sparked conversations about mental health awareness in the entertainment industry.

West is currently facing significant backlash (again) for making offensive comments about Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s children, Rumi and Sir Carter. He referred to them as «retarded» in a now-deleted tweet, stating, «Having retarded kids is a choice.» He later claimed he removed the post to avoid potential Twitter suspension, not out of remorse.

Kanye West shares tweets about Beyoncé, Jay-Z and their children. pic.twitter.com/J0HPyiaxiK

— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 19, 2025

Additionally, West’s involvement in a song featuring his daughter, North West, and Diddy, led to legal disputes with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. The track, which included North’s vocals without Kardashian’s consent, resulted in a legal battle over custody arrangements and the use of their children’s likenesses.

To these controversies, we must also add the homophobic, xenophobic, Nazi comments, and all kinds of offenses that the rapper has made on X, as well as his appearance with Bianca Censori at the Grammys, nearly naked, which is said to have led to a presumed divorce.

But what is behind West’s behavior? The rapper has suffered from various personal and mental health issues in recent years, but to what extent does this justify his downward spiral and outbursts of aggression?

Kanye West’s Mental Health Diagnoses

West’s mental health history has been complex and evolving. In 2016, West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder following a hospitalization for exhaustion and sleep deprivation. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition he has publicly acknowledged. However, in recent years, West has questioned this, suggesting it might have been a misdiagnosis. In February 2025, he announced that he had been diagnosed with autism.

His inner circle has reportedly observed signs of distress, anticipating potential meltdowns reminiscent of his previous manic episodes. Despite these concerns, Bianca Censori, and others close to him have remained supportive, hoping these phases will pass.

West’s recent revelation about his diagnosis sheds light on some of his public behaviors that have often been viewed as erratic. Autism can manifest in various ways in adults, including difficulties with social interactions, such as interpreting social cues and understanding figurative language, which might explain some of West’s past public missteps. Additionally, people on the spectrum may have repetitive behaviors, narrowly focused interests, and sensitivities to sensory stimuli, which can result in emotional outbursts or discomfort in certain environments.

By understanding these behaviors through the lens of autism, it’s possible to approach his actions with more empathy and insight, recognizing that what some view as erratic might be a manifestation of neurodiversity. However, it is very complex to know to what extent this diagnosis truly explains and justifies West’s violent and discriminatory attitudes, which seem to be getting more and more out of control with no one around him stopping it.

The Debate on Kanye’s Awareness and Responsibility

In the past, more controversies arose from his comments about other celebrities and his support for Donald Trump, which stirred up hate toward him. In 2020, his ex-wife Kim Kardashian tried one last public plea, appealing to the public’s sensitivity, when many still believed Kanye had a «bipolar disorder.»

“Anyone who has this or has a loved one who has it knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand,” she wrote in a note shared on her Instagram stories. “I’ve never publicly spoken about how this has affected us at home because I’m very protective of our children and Kanye’s right to privacy when it comes to his health. But today, I feel I should comment on it due to the stigma and misconceptions about mental health,” she added.

The truth is that Kanye is not the only celebrity facing mental health issues, but he is the most notable in this regard. It seems that aspects of his diagnosis collide with parts of his personality that had already drawn attention years earlier, before he began addressing these kinds of issues. Traits that we already saw when he snatched the VMA award from Taylor Swift or when he imposed strict control over the way Kardashian dressed and expressed herself.

Additionally, it should be noted that West has also been accused of sexual assault in the context of the Diddy scandals.