Kanye West Reveals Autism Diagnosis, Rejects Bipolar Label on Podcast
During The Download podcast, Kanye West revealed something huge – doctors got his bipolar disorder diagnosis wrong. He now says he has autism.
His wife, Bianca Censori, spotted signs in his behavior and pushed him to get new medical opinions. He first got the bipolar diagnosis back in 2016.
This news comes after a rough patch. His anti-Jewish comments in 2022-2023 caused big names like Adidas and Gap to cut ties, destroying his fortune and knocking him off billionaire lists.
“I feel a heightened connection with the universe when I’m ramping up. It is a health issue. This — it’s like a sprained brain, like having a sprained ankle,” said West to CBS News.
He didn’t want to take meds for the first diagnosis, worried they would hurt his creativity. The autism diagnosis has helped him understand his social difficulties better.
“When you’re in this state, you’re hyper-paranoid about everything… Everyone is now an actor. Everything’s a conspiracy,” West told The Recovery Village about his past struggles.
On the podcast, West talked about how hard it is dealing with fans always wanting new music. He said this pressure often sends him into a downward spiral.
In an honest chat with David Letterman in 2019, West took on mental health stigma directly, showing what daily life is like for people facing similar challenges.