Kanye West suggests autism explains his 'episodes.' Advocates say that's harmful — and false
Ye has history of offensive and antisemitic comments, repeated praise of Hitler and Nazis
WARNING: This story contains antisemitic language.
If you assume it doesn't need to be said outright that autism does not cause antisemitic behaviours, the current news cycle could suggest otherwise.
Last month, after billionaire Elon Musk was criticized for his Nazi-like hand gesture at U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration, many of his supporters suggested the salute was a "socially awkward autistic man's wave" or that he was simply expressing his emotions.
And now Kanye West, the musical artist whose reputation plummeted in recent years due to his antisemitic statements and controversial actions, revealed this week that he's been diagnosed with autism — and suggested it's behind some of his erratic behaviour.
West, who now goes by Ye, told podcaster Justin Laboy that he was previously misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood swings. But that his wife, model Bianca Censori, encouraged him to see a new doctor.
"I went to this doctor.… My wife took me to do that because she said, 'Something about your personality doesn't feel like it's bipolar, I've seen bipolar before.' ... And I've come to find that it's really a case of autism that I have," Ye said in the Feb. 4 episode of The Download.
"Autism takes you to a Rain Man thing," he added, referencing the 1988 film starring Dustin Hoffman that's been repeatedly criticized for its stereotypical portrayal.
"And that's my problem. When fans tell me to do my album a certain way. I'll do it the opposite way."
He went on to reference the 2018 controversy over his MAGA hat, explaining, "you're like, 'Aw man I'm gonna wear this Trump hat, because I like Trump in general', and when people tell you not to do it, you just get on that one point."
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain functions and results in difficulties with communication and social interaction. It's also associated with restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities.
But as several advocates have told CBC News, what autism doesn't do is affect your belief system or moral code. Every autistic person is different, and every person — autistic or not — is a product of their environment, Anne Borden, co-founder of Autistics 4 Autistics: Self Advocacy in Canada, told CBC News.
"We're not necessarily more susceptible to hateful beliefs or anything like that. It seems today that everyone is susceptible to hateful beliefs," Borden said.
"If people are so out of touch that they think all autistic people are like Kanye West, then god help them."
Repeated praise of Nazis
Ye has a history of offensive and antisemitic comments, including repeated praise of Hitler and the Nazis. He also once suggested slavery was a choice and called the COVID vaccine "the mark of the beast." In October 2022, he was criticized for wearing a "White Lives Matter" T-shirt at his Paris Fashion Week show and tweeted threats to Jewish people.
Later that month, the Balenciaga fashion house cut ties with Ye and he lost the lucrative partnership with Adidas that helped catapult him to billionaire status over his remarks. In late 2023, Ye went on an antisemitic rant in Las Vegas while promoting his album Vultures. In the rant, he made insidious insinuations about Jewish influence and compared himself to Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler.
On the podcast this week, Ye suggested autism was behind some of his behaviours.
"A lot of what was sending me into those episodes... the constant feeling of being out of control, spun me out of control," he said.
"It's so difficult for them, because this is like a grown man – you can't take control of his bank account, you can't control what I'm saying on Twitter," Ye said, referencing how his behaviour affected his loved ones.
In a written statement to CBC News, a spokesperson at the Autism Society of America said they cannot comment on individual diagnoses, but recognize the influence public figures have in shaping perceptions of autism.
"No single experience defines the autism community. It is essential that conversations about autism reflect this diversity and avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes or misconceptions," the spokesperson said.
They reiterated that while autism shapes how you perceive and engage with the world, it does not define your views or beliefs.
"Autistic individuals, like all people, have diverse personalities, values, and life experiences. Suggesting that autism is inherently linked to hate speech or harmful ideologies is not only inaccurate, but also contributes to stigma and misunderstanding."
'Toxic autism politics'
Ye's statements about his diagnosis come during what observers have noted is a time of heightened harmful discourse about autism in the U.S.. The Independent criticized Trump's second administration for what it calls "toxic autism politics," including beliefs about vaccines.
For instance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who hopes to be Trump's health secretary, has repeatedly promoted a false and scientifically de-bunked theory that vaccines cause autism. And ahead of Kennedy's confirmation hearing, Trump said "something is really wrong" with the autism rates in the U.S.
Meanwhile, Musk has repeatedly referred to himself as having Asperger's syndrome, the term for a diagnosis that's no longer used in the medical community and has since been folded into the broader category of autism spectrum disorder. He's been accused by some autism advocates of promoting what's known as "Aspie supremacy," a term coined by disability rights activists for the problematic idea that some autistic people are superior to others and neurotypical people.
In Canada, in 2019, about one in 50 of Canadians aged one to 17 had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Government of Canada.
Diagnoses have been climbing in recent years, due in part to broader definitions. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe problems communicating or socializing and those with unusual, repetitive behaviours.
As for Ye's diagnosis, Kingston, Ont., author Julie M. Green, who writes The Autistic Mom on Substack, told CBC News she worries about the public perception of autism, and that people will equate offensive beliefs and hate speech with being autistic.
"We do not wish to be tarnished with that brush," said Green.
"It's a shame because as a marginalized community, we need positive role models more than ever, and celebrities are in a position to do so much good."
The difference between disability, and excuse
This Thursday and Friday, Ye posted a series of statements on X to his 34 million followers that were homophobic, antisemitic, misogynistic and racist in nature.
Included among the many all-caps posts, he wrote that he doesn't trust Jewish people, "I'm racist," and "I love Hitler. Now what, bitches."
Borden encouraged people to use their critical thinking skills about whether someone is making excuses for their behaviour based on their disability, or if the behaviour is possibly related to the disability.
"They should understand enough about autism to understand what might be a behavioural reaction to stimuli versus a moral stance or a belief system," she said.
"If people misinterpret Kanye's belief system and morals and choices he's made ... if those are confused, then that's really the problem of the interpreters."
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With files from the Associated Press