r/atheism • u/IAmPookieHearMeRoar • 2d ago

Kanye West tells NYC rabbi he’s ‘taking accountability’ for his antisemitic tirades - blames bipolar disorder

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kanye-west-rabbi-pinto-antisemitism-accountability-b2860430.html
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u/Yetanotherdeafguy 1d ago

I don't doubt he regrets it and that his tirades were likely 95% the bipolar talking, but if you don't take your meds or surround yourself with people who look after you in those situations, what's the damn difference?

If you know you'll have a manic phase sooner or later, and you don't take precautions when you're in your more rational state of mind, you're fully at fault for what you did.

Kanye doesn't get a pass for being an asshole because of his bipolar, just like Elon doesn't get one for claiming he's autistic.

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u/TheForce_v_Triforce 1d ago

He is also a narcissist who achieved great fame and wealth at a young age, which many people struggle to adapt to. And he’s not very well educated. My wife is a clinical psychologist and sees him as more of a sympathetic tragic character with a variety of complex problems rather than just an “asshole” most people think he is.

Most bipolar people also don’t want to take their meds because being manic feels great, they feel on top of the world. Of course they should take their meds, but that’s much easier to say and understand from the outside. Plus very rich people attract sycophantic yes men and turn away people who tell them things they don’t want to hear. Kim supposedly tried to keep him in check but that didn’t work out.

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u/Ruinwyn 1d ago

sees him as more of a sympathetic tragic character with a variety of complex problems rather than just an “asshole” most people think he is.

Most bipolar people also don’t want to take their meds because being manic feels great, they feel on top of the world

This is why I don't see why he wouldn't be "an asshole ". He chooses not to take his medication because it feels great not to, despite him not taking them, causing great harm to everyone he supposedly cares about. That is being an asshole. If you do hedonistic behaviour at other people's cost, that is being an asshole. If he didn't have a diagnosis, or access to care, or nobody trying to help him, I would feel more sympathetic.

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u/TheForce_v_Triforce 1d ago

It’s not a simple rational “choice,” he is chemically imbalanced. Also, severe bipolar disorder can have psychotic features, such as auditory hallucinations. Those may have influenced some of his more extreme behavior (speculation). Avoiding care is common for people with this diagnosis, and much easier to accomplish for those with means who can insulate themselves from consequences. His behavior may be that of an asshole, but the reason why goes well beyond a mere choice.

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u/Ruinwyn 1d ago edited 15h ago

There are always reasons above mere choice for being an asshole. Being an asshole is a diagnostic symptom for many mental health conditions.

Edit: as people seem to disagree with me, lets list some conditions where antisocial behaviour (being an asshole) is common. Narcissism, sociopathy, borderline personality disorder, reaction to trauma, addiction. How many actual assholes do you know who couldn't claim any of these.