Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, has publicly dismissed his bipolar disorder diagnosis, asserting that he was misdiagnosed following his 2016 breakdown and actually has autism. The 47-year-old rapper made the revelation on Tuesday during an appearance on The Download podcast with host Justin Laboy.
West recounted how his wife, Bianca Censori, whom he married in late 2022, played a key role in questioning his previous diagnosis. According to him, she observed inconsistencies between his behavior and typical bipolar disorder symptoms. "My wife took me [to a doctor] because she said, 'Something about your personality doesn't feel like it's bipolar, I've seen bipolar before,'" he shared. "And come to find out, it's really a case of autism that I have."
The rapper suggested that receiving the correct diagnosis has helped him reassess past actions and reactions. He admitted that his struggles often stemmed from feeling a lack of control, which would lead to impulsive behavior. He reflected on times when he fixated on defying expectations, such as wearing a Donald Trump hat despite public backlash. "When people tell you to not do it, you just get on that one point, and that's my problem," he explained. "When fans tell me to do my album a certain way, I'll do it the opposite way."
West also revealed that after learning of his alleged misdiagnosis, he discontinued medication for bipolar disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental condition affecting communication, learning, and behavior, whereas bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood shifts, including manic and depressive episodes.
West was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being hospitalized for a psychiatric emergency in 2016. However, his erratic behavior continued in the years that followed, culminating in 2022, when his antisemitic remarks led to severe professional repercussions, including the loss of major brand partnerships such as the Adidas Yeezy collaboration.
Source: TheStar
