Good Riddance To Yeezy?

Rapper Kanye West does everything he can to promote himself as a genius. He certainly has talent as a music artist and entrepreneur. Kanye, who began referring to himself as “Ye,” admitted in 2018 to a bipolar disorder.

At the time, the bipolar community accepted him as an inspiration. He had received involuntary treatment in 2016, he declared in an interview with David Letterman. He became an advocate for ending the stigma. But his then-wife, Kim Kardashian, concerned with Kanye’s behavior, claimed that he was not being compliant about taking his medications. She explained that he felt that it interfered with his creative process.

Not a Superpower

Kanye declared that bipolar was his superpower. At that point, Kanye went from being an asset to the bipolar community to being a liability. It’s impossible to know how many people became medication non-compliant following his example. Bipolar is not a superpower. It is a condition to be managed.

BipolarStar.Com exists to promote bipolar pride. “Ending the stigma” is a cliche. And it doesn’t go far enough. We believe that we can celebrate our neurodiversity. But choosing bipolar is just nuts. 

Bipolar disorder made Kanye a millionaire. But he used to be a billionaire. That was before his antisemitic comments cost him a mega-deal with Adidas to make a line of “Yeezy” sportswear and shoes. If bipolar is a gift, it comes at a heavy price. His superpower could not save Kanye’s high-profile marriage from his high-profile behavior.

Does Kanye Have Autism?

Now Kanye is claiming that he was misdiagnosed and actually has autism. Perhaps the bipolar community should be happy to see him go. He belongs to the autism community now. Regardless of the accuracy of his diagnosis, he identifies with those affected by autism.

Why embrace autism? According to Kanye, it takes him to a “Rain Man thing.” More promotion of himself as a genius. Kanye may be jealous of the attention fellow rapper Sean “Diddy,” aka “Puff Daddy” Combs has been getting. Or he may want in on the action. He has promoted a #FreePuff campaign and has urged President Trump to issue a pardon.

Erratic Behavior

But Kanye’s erratic behavior is not at all suggestive of autism. His admitted pornography addiction bizarre.  His quotes and tweets have been erratic, to be charitable.  On the subject of President Trump, he tweeted: “You don’t have to agree with Trump but the mob can’t make me not love him.  We are both dragon energy. He is my brother.”  Then Kanye launched his own peculiar campaign for president, for which he received 60,000 votes. He called his party the “Birthday Party.”

Kanye’s hyperfocus on religion seems to have been classic bipolar. He founded a church, wrote a religious album, is called “Yeezus” by a legion of fans, and seems at times to have messianic delusions. 

Obviously we want to show compassion and humanity to anyone suffering from a serious disorder. But Kanye is more than an embarrassment. He has a huge platform, and he uses it in destructive ways. As of late, Kanye has taken to his X account to post antisemitic and misogynistic rantings. The autism population, represented by the National Autism Society, has denied that autism can be responsible for such comments. He’s their problem now.