Kim Kardashian West has publicly addressed her husband Kanye’s mental health issues following a number of recent Twitter messages which have sparked divorce rumours and concern over his well-being.
She wrote on Instagram: “As many of you know, Kanye has bipolar disorder. Anyone who has this or has a loved one in their life who does knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand.”
Kim and Kanye who got married in 2014 and have four children together. In her message on Wednesday, the TV personality and model said she had not previously spoken publicly about how his mental health had affected the family “because I am very protective of our children and Kanye’s right to privacy when it comes to his health”.
Kardashian West went on to say her husband was “subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions”, but asked for more empathy and understanding.
“He is a brilliant but complicated person who on top of the pressures of being an artist and a black man, who experienced the painful loss of his mother and has to deal with the pressure and isolation that is heightened by his bipolar disorder,” she adds.
The billionaire rapper is currently attempting to run for US president but has been facing public scrutiny from the likes of Pierce Morgan and DJ Vlad, over his ability to govern.
In defense to Kanye West’s recent behaviour, including his emotional breakdown during his first presidential campaign rally in South Carolina, where he admitted that Kim considered having an abortion when she was pregnant with their daughter North, saying that she feels like commenting “because of the stigma and misconceptions about mental health.”
“Those who are close to Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions.
“Living with bipolar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some.”
“That is part of his genius and as we have all witnessed, many of his big dreams have come true.
“We as a society talk about giving grace to the issue of mental health as a whole, however, we should also give it to the individuals who are living with it in times when they need it the most.
“I kindly ask that the media and public give us the compassion and empathy that is needed so that we can get through this.”
BBC NEWS
