This, in large part, is due to his mental health’s gradual decline since his 2016 bipolar diagnosis, worsened by his refusal to take medication, which he claims would stifle his creativity. While this certainly does not excuse his vile and racist statements, society should use Ye’s descent into madness as a warning of the drastic impact mental illness can have on one’s behavior when left untreated as opposed to just labeling him a racist.

You’re wrong if you think someone with 18.4 million Instagram followers and 31.7 million Twitter followers making a statement on social media has no effect.