Kanye West has made a surprising claim that he was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018 and is actually autistic.
The rapper, who once referred to his bipolar diagnosis as his “superpower” on his Ye album, now says that doctors got it wrong. In a new interview on The Download podcast with Justin LaBoy, West asserted that he was given the wrong diagnosis and that his wife, Bianca Censori, encouraged him to get a second opinion.
“Come to find out, it’s really a case of autism that I have,” West stated.
His ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, had previously asked for “compassion” regarding his “compulsive behavior,” following his bipolar diagnosis. But now, West insists that his past actions and public controversies stem from his struggle with “not being in control.” He explained, “You can’t take control of his bank account. You can’t control what I’m saying on Twitter.”
West also revealed that he has stopped taking his prescribed medication since receiving his new diagnosis. He suggested that the medication was interfering with his creative abilities, saying, “It’s about finding stuff that doesn’t block the creativity—obviously, that’s what I bring to the world.”
According to him, any struggles or “ramp-up” moments are worth it, as long as they allow him to continue creating.