Like nearly every Kanye West story, the backstory on his bipolar disorder is lengthy, contradictory and backed up by endless interviews and quotes. I won’t even attempt to recap, but People Magazine did a good one here. It is established by his words and actions that Kanye has been suffering with his bipolar disorder for several years. Personally, I would guess that his drinking and drug use in his 20s was probably an early attempt to self-medicate. Over the past five years especially, he just goes through very manic periods and they almost always play out in public, through Kanye’s social media, or Kanye giving interviews and making bizarre, outlandish claims, or what about the time that he seemed to be in some kind of ranting fugue state in the Oval Office?
Anyway, in recent weeks, Kanye has been going through another manic phase. We all knew that as soon as he announced his presidential candidacy via tweet, and then we were sure about it when he gave that God-awful interview to Forbes. Then TMZ got a tip (likely from a Kardashian) that Kanye was in fact “in the throes of a serious bipolar episode.” As it turns out, People Magazine got a similar exclusive:
Kanye West’s announcement about his intention to run for president has come amid a new cycle in the rapper’s struggle with his bipolar disorder, a source tells PEOPLE.
“Kanye has been doing well for a long time. In the past, he has suffered both manic and depressive episodes related to his bipolar disorder. Right now, he is struggling again,” a source tells PEOPLE.
Wife Kim Kardashian West, who according to the source is in Los Angeles with their four kids while West is in Wyoming, has been feeling “worried” about her husband’s behavior.
“Kim is concerned, as well as her whole family. It’s super stressful for Kim, because Kanye’s behavior is very unpredictable. She is worried,” the source adds. “The episodes usually last for a few weeks and then things go back to normal. Kim hopes it will be the same this time.”
Well, that answers that: “Wife Kim Kardashian West, who according to the source is in Los Angeles with their four kids while West is in Wyoming.” I said in yesterday’s story that it’s not Kim’s responsibility to be her husband’s caretaker, and I still feel that way. It’s not Kim’s “fault” that Kanye is like this, and it’s not Kim’s fault that Kanye has megalomaniac delusions when he refuses to medicate. She does what she can, but she’s also been through all of this before with Kanye and (I would assume) she finds that there really isn’t anything she *can* do for him when in this state. And clearly, she doesn’t want to be around him – they’ve been having marriage problems throughout the quarantine, and Kanye keeps flying back and forth between LA and Wyoming while Kim mostly stays in LA. It feels like Kim is doing what she needs to do for herself and her kids.
Also: there’s a sort of desperation to the claims that Kim “has to stick with Kanye” or else she’ll be nobody. Like, she was incredibly famous before Kanye. If she left him tomorrow, she’d still be famous and financially successful, and she wouldn’t have to pretend to like domes. Imagine how successful her fourth husband will be. I imagine the fourth husband will be some big-name lawyer in LA.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red and Backgrid.
I think she’s stuck between a rock and a very hard place. (Disclaimer: I am very much NOT a fan of anything K-related.) If she doesn’t support him, she’s cold, a bitch, grasping, self-obsessed and career-focused. If she DOES support him she’s encouraging his delusions, is cynical, cold, narcissistic, self-obsessed and career-focused. If she were to temper or counter his statements she’d be censoring him. This is a situation where she just can’t win, even through divorce, because there are four children in the mix. If we look beyond the performative narcissism and the series of new faces and implants and terrible reality series, she’s a woman who’s made a commitment to a man who often refuses to help himself and drops himself, and her by extension, right in it. His outbursts range from embarrassing to terrifying. If I were in her situation I’d divorce him and insist that he could only have contact time with the children if he were appropriately medicated, and it could very well be her only option. His children are old enough to be affected by this now.
I think what’s not well understood about these manic episodes is that agreeing with the delusions does not encourage further delusions for the person in mania. It doesn’t make them any worse than they would be without you agreeing.
However, by agreeing you are encouraging the person in mania to stay connected with you and keeps that line of communication open.
It seems counterintuitive, but flat out denying the delusions can cause more harm than agreeing that the person believes in the delusions and acknowledging that the delusions are real for that person.
Until either the manic episodes passes or they get into trouble where they end up in a hospital and medicated, the only way to have any type of conversation is to agree with some aspect of the delusions. Show the sick person that you are on their side. Then they may open up and eventually agree to treatment. If you flat our refuse the delusions, things can actually get even worse and the person can get into greater trouble because they feel no support from their loved ones.
It’s messed up, and as much as I usually don’t care about the kardashians, there is no right way to deal with this. Mania/psychosis, it’s incredibly hard to deal with. Especially as it comes on in waves. One conversation the person is raving lunatic running for president, next conversation he is asking how you are doing and do you want him to make pasta or chicken for dinner.
100% @gemenichic
A member of my family is bi-polar. When she has a manic episode we have found the best course of action is to let it play out and to support her in anyway we can. Trying to argue reason with someone in that state will not be successful.
@gemenichik I think you’ve nailed it. Some people think trying to control a person suffering from BPD when they’re going through a manic episode is the answer. No, they have to burn through it at their pace. They’ll do it with or without you. Sometimes it’s the better option to stay within their orbit to ensure they’re not making more dangerous decisions. But if they think you’re against them, they may self isolate and do worse things that they’ll regret when they resurface.
I’m not the biggest Kardashian fan. I don’t know if I understand her ultimate motives (not that it matters), but I do think she’s doing right by Kanye and for her family by how she is supporting him. What she shows to him is a united front publicly. Which seems to be important to him and seems to bring him back to his regular reality faster. Now if she’s willing to keep that up long term, who knows? That’s her decision to make. Even if she really does love him more then his name brings to the relationship. But I don’t think she feels there’s another positive way for her to deal with him during these episodes otherwise she would be doing it. It’s probably matured her viewpoint on a lot of things more then anything else she’s ever experienced. I can’t hate on her for this.
I really can’t stand Kim K in every other aspect, but I am not going criticize her for how she deals with a bipolar spouse. My grandmother was bipolar and untreated for most of her life and it was not easy for any of the family. There is only so much you can do if they don’t want to properly follow the prescribed medication and you can try to help, but it’s always up to them.
AndrewsNemesis:
Fully and perfectly stated.
I think there is another alternative. Deal with the situation WITHOUT 1) evaluating first how your action/response/statement will impact your brand and place that priority above all else; 2) making everything public (again, because your priority is not actually the person in crisis but your own reputation).
I think ignoring the pressure placed on family members from their loved ones whilst manic is very often ignored
KKW endorsed in the lightest way possible and this could have prevented hours of haranging or even be done in order to keep him safe.
We have no idea how rapidly he cycles or his need to be acknowledged when manic.
Please stop wanting to make this the fault of the Kardashian or Jenner family.
It is a difficult situation for anyone – not actually made easier by money. She will be highly anxious not knowing the right path to take for her, their family or him.
These people are still people
^This too
I disagree. As rich and famous as she was before Kanye, her star was falling after her 72 day quickie marriage. Fast! He revived her, and then opened doors for her and her family that were locked to them.
Kim (And the rest of that degenerative family) are quite ready to stand with Kanye when it benefits them. They’re happy for him to go on rants in their defence. They need to take the bad with the good. She made the vows. Stand by your man Kim. Look after this black man… consider it gratitude for ripping off the culture and profiting off of it
I agree! Kim was famous, but not at the same level and with the same level of legitimacy. Probably like a Bravo or Vanderpump level of fame. Kanye fought hard to have Kim recognized in many circles (hello vogue and Met gala)! Would she have eventually gotten there? Maybe, but Kanye, especially 2009/10 Kanye, put her on a higher playing field.
Kim needs Kanye. The entire clan does and owes Kanye big time.
I’d want to be several states away with my kids during “episodes” like these too.
“You go on to Wyoming, Honey. We’ll be here when you get back.” (Whew! He’s gone!)
I don’t think she’ll divorce him until the kids are older or grown. 1) He’d get visits with the kids, possibly, unsupervised visits. 2) It would make her look bad like she abandoned her husband due to a medical condition. Better to just live separately as much as possible.
The top three reasons people divorce are kids, money, careers.
Those are often the same reasons people stay.
I hope he wears that silver get-up at the debates….
She will not divorce him right now. She’ll look like the wife who stood by him during hard times, then when everything calmed down in a year or two I believe she will leave.
I agree with you she was already super successful before Kanye, but she didn’t hang out with Beyonce until she was with Kanye West. It catapulted her to another level of fame. She wasn’t only a tv reality show star, she became a celebrity.
@Léna I believe right now, Kanye needs Kim more than she needs him in terms of success and image. She has her business, is in the way of becoming a billionaire, has become (for better and worst) a culture icon. I doubt Yeezy would be as successful if it wasn’t for the Kardashians/Jenner massive support and let’s be honest, Kanye hasn’t been the same artist for what, a decade? He needs her, she doesn’t need him.
She didn’t hang out with Beyoncé after she married Kanye, either.
@nancypants
Agreed. The fear of a person with bouts of mania being given joint custody is likely a reason to not get a divorce. Until a divorce is done and a custody agreement is in place, she can take the kids and go live separately during the episodes making sure their exposure is limited/controlled.
He is a rich man, and likely loves his children very much. I doubt that he would give up full custody and I doubt that he would be able to avoid manic states completely.
So she is between a rock and a hard place.
I didn’t think of this perspective before.
Honest question: how likely is it that he would be given joint custody with a documented history of not maintaining treatment and episodes of mania? But I suppose to contest join custody would usher a horrible fight…?
in ca, the presumption is that it is in the best interest of the child for to have frequent and continuing contact with both parents if you’re the parent who wants to restrict that contact, you bear the burden of proof. you have to prove that contact would be detrimental to the best interest of children. aaaaand there’s this case (in re marriage of carney) and a law codifying the case that talks about it being impermissible to consider disability as a reason to deny custody rights.
so like ultimately, i personally think kkw would probably be able to sustain that burden of proof in court, but you know that ‘ye would hire crazy expensive lawyers that could drown kkw in protracted legal battles that take years and probably millions of dollars. kids could be subject to custody evals, lots of invasive sh-t.
im not an expert but i think kkw is making the right call staying out of court. right now, in the absence of orders, she has the ability to call the shots bc the kids are with her. once the court gets involved, ‘ye’s gonna be able to manipulate the situation a lot more.
Come here just for the Kanye news, was thinking today would be the day they finally divorce. There’s that dress.
Come here just for the Kanye news, was thinking today would be the day they finally divorce. There’s that dress.
It’s not that I think it’s her fault when he behaves this way or that nearly a decade into their relationship she owes him for all the doors her opened …. it’s that unlike most people, his manic behavior doesn’t just impact him and his family. He actively attacks the civil rights of this country and divides us. Over and over and over again.
It’s not that I think Kim should magically fix him, it’s that as his wife, I do think she has a responsibility to his mental health. That’s not blaming a woman for her husbands bs.
And as I also said yesterday, she has no issue profiting off of him and his mental state when it suits her. Right now it doesn’t.
I don’t think that’s fair. I can’t stand the Kardashians but to put this all on her is wrong. I can’t imagine being in this scenario. Even before her, since his mother passed, he’s had erratic behavior. I had an in-law who suffered from bipolar disorder, committed suicide. We had an estranged relationship and frankly couldn’t stand his wife, still can’t, but I don’t blame her for what happened.Also, the family didn’t know how to better support them as a family because he didn’t want our support, and could be very secretive about what he was going through. It’s very isolating for the spouse. There’s only so much one can do if they don’t want help, won’t take their meds, or if they are lashing out, and you have children to protect. With Kanye, he can be splashed all over the news, but we don’t know what actually goes on in their house day to day. Anyway, I hope he gets through this latest episode for his sake and his family’s.
I can relate to the bipolar depression. I just finish paying off a credit card bill doing my episode and finally going on proper medication. My 20’s were filled with liquor and pot use so I could just feel something else, pretty much anything else.
I know Kayne is totally awful and a complete and total douchebag but this is something that I do have in common with him and I do not have a tenth of a tenth of the assets and access he does.
My man, you have four kids, think about their future and how they will want to you around.
I forgot they had 4 kids, I only remember the two. I wonder if they love each other or if this is just a marriage for American Royalty’s sake. They were both household names on their own, but I’m sure the KKardashianKlan saw an opportunity to exploit a celebrity marriage, and throw in four additional money bags. I feel nothing from these people except their desire for fame and money, they seem like the type to not pay their exploited laborers who produce their products… >_>
This woman chose to bring four children into this world with this man because she wanted four children by the same father. She knew he suffered serious mental illness, which he refused to treat, when she chose to have at least two, if not three, of those children. Four children who will have to live their lives concerned that they may have whatever he has if any bit of it is hereditary. Four children who will have to spend their lives dealing with his mental illness. Even if she divorces him, he is still their father and they will still have to deal with his problems, especially after they become adults and he grows elderly.
My concerns and sympathy are with those four children, not with the woman who chose this life for them.
The Kardashians’ insistence on having kids with the same father is SO damaging. Here we have Kourtney, who was still having kids with Scott after the point they realized their relationship was toxic, Khloe is hanging around Tristan even after he cheated on her and publicly humiliated her, and Kim continuing to have children with a man she has known is mentally ill and could pass those issues on to his children. I feel so sorry for all of these kids.
@LP- agreed ^^^. There is something to be said about her choosing to expand her family despite her knowledge of a concerning, hereditary mental illness. I am not saying that people who struggle with mental illness do not deserve love and the opportunity for family, but at some point there has to be responsibility taken regarding the impact on those kids, particularly when treatment is knowingly refused. Who knows, maybe they extensively talked all this through in a moment of mental health and together made a decision to move forward and have more kids, but i would be very surprised. There seems to be a trend in that family to choose a man to procreate with but not commit to.
I am bipolar and after advice from a doctor I made the decision not to procreate. I would never want to knowingly pass this disorder on. Instead, I adopted my daughter. I have been on meds for 25+ years, only going off once under a doctor’s care. I have no sympathy for Kim or Kanye. Their kids? Absolutely. More than likely one of them will be bipolar.
I find this a pretty disturbing thread. Maybe because I’m a therapist and work with people with bipolar disorder, maybe because I have mental health myself, but are people with mental health disorders really not supposed to procreate for fear of passing them on? Really? #1, bipolar is 15-30% heritable if one parent has it, it’s by no means guaranteed and heavily influenced by environment and trauma. #2, people who have bipolar disorder can be really incredible, intelligent, witty, funny, creative people who live full lives. If someone said this stuff about autism, y’all would freak, but somehow it’s okay because this is triggered by a Black man with bipolar disorder. Gross.
I agree, this is a weird thread. I understand not wanting to procreate for personal reasons, but to villainize someone for having kids with a bipolar person? That’s some absolute eugenics nonsense. Firstly, there’s no guarantee that they will inherit BPD, secondly (as you said) nurture plays a big role in BPD even if you do inherit it and lastly, it’s treatable and manageable and plenty of people lead productive and stable lives with BPD.
There’s also the fact that it could not be hereditary for West at all, and a matter of a brain Injury, drug use or high stress.
As someone who works in healthcare, there’s likely not a lot she CAN do if he refuses treatment. Unless she can prove he’s a danger to himself or others and get a court order for a psych hold and meds. It really sucks, so many people are forced to stand by and watch their loved ones spiral, and their hands are tied.
@JV I’m in healthcare and I came to say the same thing. Unless he is threatening to hurt himself or others, she can’t force him to do anything. I think she is coping with this as best she can. Kanye is an adult and knows the difference between right and wrong. She’s got 4 children to deal with. I think she has found it easier to let him go on these episodes. Who knows how he has reacted before when she has tried to intervene.
@JV Yes you are absolutely correct. There really is not much she can do. The responsibility is on Kayne for him to address his mental health issues and address them. THAT being said, she does have a choice to leave or not. I was married to a drug addict for ten years, cocaine and heroin. We had a daughter as well. He was in and out of rehab, in and out of sobriety. I stood by him all that time and supported him and did everything I could to help him get sober, but it was not my journey – it was his. Finally when my daughter was 4/5, I left because I could not take the insanity anymore. He did finally get sober several years later and he has a good relationship with our daughter and we are on good terms, but that was the best decision I made. To live in that hell was a nightmare and I became completely co-dependent and was not taking care of myself, only worrying about him. So yes, Kim could choose to leave if Kayne won’t address his Bipolar issues. Just my two cents.
Angelina Jolie did it with Brad Pitt, just saying. It’s not like Kim isn’t a celebrity on her own merit. I couldn’t stand there anymore and watch someone NOT take care of themselves year after year and worry about the damage it would do to my children, which is exactly why I left my marriage.
Absolutely agree! I am glad you were able to make the choice that was best for you and your daughter 🙂 As far as Kim and Kanye are concerned, I have never really been interested in either of them– just pointing out that it’s not fair for the general public to think that somehow Kim could prevent this from happening. Absolutely, she could leave. Unlike many people, her economic circumstances aren’t preventing her from making that choice. I can just see the headlines and smear campaigns if she does, though!
@JV Thanks! Yes I agree with what you said about Kim and Kayne. She absolutely could leave, in terms of economically and be fine. Wasn’t easy for me, but I survived. But I am sure for someone like Kim she would more concerned with her “image” and “followers” which is beyond sad IMO. Whatever LOL
Oh please, Kanye is the ONLY thing that gets the Kardashians any attention these days. He keeps them in the press. They need him. Also, what the f*ck is the point of marriage if you’re not gonna lean on your spouse during tough times? You should be there for each other !
I think her next husband will be boring, old, not into the spotlight, and rich as hell. Dealing with a bipolar person in a relationship is EXHAUSTING. Like she might be tired for a year after she leaves him. It really is difficult. And its not just him, a lot of bipolar people don’t take their mediation either because when they feel good (the medication is working) they convince themselves they don’t need it- they’re cured!) or because the mania part is exciting and fun, it is a high- so they hate to lose that part of it.
I actually feel bad for Kim. And i hate that this is behavior being modeled for their daughters, who may grow up thinking they have to help or fix a mentally unstable man in a relationship.
Kim has never given off any ‘passionately in love’ vibes with anyone i have seen her with. I think ahe likes being in a relationship but it always feels so bland and like its just for convinience.
I have no sympathy for her,I feel sorry for those kids that she purposely put smack -dab in the middle of crazy and exposed to inherited illness. She’s also teaching them that it’s okay to go untreated and you should ignore the illness of a spouse if it doesn’t suit your story at the moment.
As pointed as above she did choose to have several more children with him even after it was clear he was not interested in getting treatment for his episodes. She was well into her 30s as well and knew what she was doing to some degree. Even if they split he would not be raising the kids or around them, he would have a nanny do the work because he doesn’t seem that into caring for his family. I do have sympathy but she wanted to fame and lifestyle instead of marrying someone more stable who would be an involved father. If she is focusing on the kids then good for her.
It’s true that she was extremely famous before Kanye, but it was only after being with Kanye that she was accepted into the circles that meant so much to her. It was only after Kanye that Anna Wintour would ever even consider speaking to her, let alone give her a cover. Kendall’s modeling career went from being a joke to her becoming the top paid model in the world. No one took them seriously until they got linked to Kanye.
No woman is ever responsible for her husband’s actions, but I do feel like it’s fair to say that the entire family walks on eggshells with him and kisses his ass. Kanye needs people in his life to be real with him because he’s got a very serious problem and it’s not being treated properly.
You guys, she doesn’t give a poop what he does. Remember when she married Kris Humphries and didn’t want him to move into her house? I do…I don’t think she cares if he’s there or not. I used to watch the show, she’s not a sweet loving person. Imo she only cares about herself.
This!!! Truth!
I worry about the kids in this mess. If Kanye won’t take his meds and one of the kids develops similar issues what will Kim do if he tries to prevent the child from being properly assisted medically. In a normal family that would be hard enough, but Kanye has $$$ enough to fly off with the kids on a grand manic adventure. I hope they have safeguards in place when he is having an episode.
Van Jones for Kim’s Fourth Husband! I think they suit each other and have similar half-formed views on criminal justice and criminal justice reform. And like Kim and her current husband, he doesn’t really like black women. He is not rich but she’s made her kids and she’ll have an iron clad prenup. Can we Gossip Genie this?
But alas, Van Jones won’t be a possibility. Kim Kardashian is very much invested in being a wife to Kanye. She has conformed herself to his standards and liking under the guise that she is his ‘muse’. She lives in a house void of color and stimulation with her four children under 8 years because that is what her husband wants. I also think she simply does not want a third divorce. We judge even non-famous people who have been married multiple times. I think she wants to avoid that third divorce to save herself from embarrassment. Because if he was only her second husband…she would have been out of this marriage already.
I dated an undiagnosed bipolar person as a young woman, and he would cycle weekly at the worst of it. I tried speaking to his mother back then, but it’s hard to get family involved even if they know there is a big problem. The relationship ended after five years, but left a big dent in how I approached relationships. I also have mental illnesses myself and seem to gravitate to others with those sort of issues. I also chose not to reproduce- wouldn’t wish that hell on anyone.
All this is to say, every time a story like this comes out I wonder how long his cycles are, maybe because he’s older it doesn’t happen as often, but I would say once every 6 months or so he’s manic?
I thought they had informally separated because of too much time together during Covid. Where did that story go?
It didn’t get enough attention so they changed the story lol it’s what this family does best.
My sister is bi-polar, a malignant narcissist, and an alcoholic. She had several kids, and each one of them is emotionally damaged because of their mother. My sister is non-compliant and refuses meds & therapy, and because she refuses treatment, she is a terror. I have wanted to ask her husband why they keep having kids, but all he does is make excuses for her. It is beyond unfair to bring innocent children into the world fully knowing that one of their parents is mentally ill and non-compliant. Not judging here, just feeling so sad for the innocent kids. Kim was selfish to procreate with a man that was obviously unstable long before they got together. My sister never should have had children because all that she has done is torment them, and I also worry that her children may have inherited her mental illnesses.
Very good points!!! Kim knows full well (or should know for crying out loud!) Kayne is not well yet keeps having children with him, which to me is beyond selfish and irresponsible. Because, in the end, they are the ones who will suffer the emotional damage. Kim is a grown adult. They are not.
“Also: there’s a sort of desperation to the claims that Kim “has to stick with Kanye” or else she’ll be nobody. Like, she was incredibly famous before Kanye. If she left him tomorrow, she’d still be famous and financially successful, and she wouldn’t have to pretend to like domes. Imagine how successful her fourth husband will be. I imagine the fourth husband will be some big-name lawyer in LA”
I don’t think this is entirely accurate. While it’s completely true that she was super famous before Kanye, it was a different type of fame. For lack of a better word, Kanye legitimized her when he got with her. She would not have been let into the Met Gala or been placed on the cover of Vogue without him. At the time there was a clear separation between reality stars and “real” celebrities, as shallow as it was. And that separation mattered to her and her family.
I totally agree with you @thatsenoughmarie. I respect Kim’s hustle but she would never be where she is on her own.
Plus I don’t think there will ever be a fourth husband, and if there’s one, there’s not a chance in the world he will be lowkey. Kim is addicted to fame. That’s her endgame.
This is a hard story for me. I have a spouse with BP prone to depression. We were aware of his diagnosis before marrying and it altered our decision for kids from many to 1 because of the likelihood of passing along his mental illness. That is what we felt comfortable with. I also did not want to be solely responsible for the care of multiple young children if my partner ended up frequently needing hospitalization. Thankfully this has not been the case, and my husband has always been diligent with treating his disease. Kim does not seem as lucky with Kanye. He does not appear to either accept his diagnosis or else does not stay in treatment. Let me also be clear that people diligent with doctor visits, care and medication can still suffer setbacks through no fault of their own. Maybe that is the case here, maybe not. Personally I would not have had children with my husband if he’d been prone to mania, leaving me more than likely to be their #1 caretaker frequently and for generous stretches of time. Not just because I’d be the one shouldering the responsibility,
but also because it is heartbreaking for any kid that mom or dad can’t always be there due illness and dealing with mania can be scary to witness for anyone let alone a child. Also, the more kids you have, the stronger the likelihood they will inherit a parent’s disease. It’s just not something I would take the chance on. But she has the money and family to help, so I wish those kids the very best of luck. It’s just sad.
This is sad. Four kids with this man…..four kids who may end up developing his illness later in life. I pray that she won’t ever meet that bridge and have to cross it. Because it’s scary to navigate mental illness and can be exhausting. I know I scared my mother to death several times.
Those kids of theirs are gorgeous.