The announcement comes on the heels of a series of rambling and incoherent tweets that left fans concerned for his mental health -- and Halsey rushing to shut down those making light of what she sees as a bipolar "manic episode."
Fans of Kanye West are struggling to keep up with all the latest twists and turns as the rapper-turned-politician appears poised to make a pivot back toward music. At least, that's the most obvious way to interpret his latest tweets.
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View StoryAccording to reports by TMZ, Kanye is "in the middle of a serious mental health episode" related to his bipolar, but that he is refusing the advice of friends and family and refusing to seek medical help.
Fans were left even more perplexed after he wrapped a wild night on Twitter with the official announcement of his newest album, "Donda," coming Friday. He shared the news with a track list. And right before that, he wrote, "Ima focus on the music now."
But before that renewed "focus," there appeared to be almost no focus as he went on a Twitter tear, unleashing a torrent of tweets including allegations that Kim Kardashian was trying to bring a doctor to Wyoming to have him committed, comparing himself to the main character in "Get Out," and lashing out at Kris Jenner.
Ima focus on the music now
— ye (@kanyewest) July 21, 2020 @kanyewest
DONDA coming this Friday pic.twitter.com/HGibF3PHYf
— ye (@kanyewest) July 21, 2020 @kanyewest
He also lamented that his family wasn't with him. "I love my wife. My family must live next to me. It’s not up to E or NBC anymore," he tweeted.
While most fans expressed concern for his mental health as he tweeted and deleted a whole litany of truly incendiary and perplexing comments (including mentions of Jennifer Lawrence, Anna Wintour, Shia LaBeouf and others), some were being insensitive and even making jokes at his expense.
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View StoryHalsey, who has been publicly open about her own struggles with bipolar, quickly took to Twitter to try and convince these people that this is something to be taken seriously. Making public light of mental health is dangerous for the individual suffering, and others suffering in silence as well.
"Personal opinions about someone aside, a manic episode isn't a joke. If you can’t offer understanding or sympathy, offer your silence," she chided.
"Taking this opportunity to make offensive remarks and vilify people with mental illnesses is really not the way to go," she continued. "This is the exact triggering shit that causes people to keep quiet about it."
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View StoryNo jokes right now. I have dedicated my career to offering education and insight about bipolar disorder and I’m so disturbed by what I’m seeing. Personal opinions about someone aside, a manic episode isnt a joke. If you can’t offer understanding or sympathy, offer your silence.
— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020 @halsey
A lot of people you know probably have bipolar disorder and you aren’t aware of it. Taking this opportunity to make offensive remarks and villify people with mental illnesses is really not the way to go...this is the exact triggering shit that causes people to keep quiet about it
— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020 @halsey
you can hate someone’s actions or opinions without contributing to stigma that damages an entire community of sometimes vulnerable people all for a couple of laughs.
— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020 @halsey
If you wanna think someone is an asshole, go ahead. Lots of people with mental illnesses are great. Lots of them are assholes. Because they are people. With nuanced personalities. But making jokes specifically targeted towards bipolar hurts more than the 1 person ur angry with.
— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020 @halsey
Sincerely, Human Being with a Decade Long Bipolar Diagnosis.
— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020 @halsey
Kanye had previously stated that he often forgoes taking his medication because he feels it stifles his creativity. With a new album now on the horizon, it's clear that he's been expressing that creativity, so could that mean he's been off his medication for some time now?
Most of the rambling, random, and ranting tweets of Monday evening have been deleted from his page, though TMZ and other outlets have captures of them.
Still on his page as of this writing is the decree that "West children will never do Playboy," referencing Kris (as her manager) allowing Kim to do so in 2007. That's followed by a screenshot of a Google search for "crichoues indignation" being autocorrected to "righteous indignation."
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View StoryWhen Kanye first announced his bid for the presidency on July 4, fans were skeptical of just how serious he was, with many theorizing that it was a publicity move to help promote his inevitable upcoming album -- he had, after all, just released a single.
If that were so, then Kanye apparently got carried away, going so far as to file paperwork, conduct an interview and stage a campaign rally.
It's also unclear just what this latest statement means.
Is he going to abandon his presidential bid to "focus on the music"? He's already too late to be on the ballot in several key states and not currently polling with any meaningful numbers against Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
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View StoryMost fans on social media were agreeing with media outlets that the rapper appears to be in the middle of a mental health crisis. Kanye and several of the people he mentioned quickly began trending as fans tried to process what was happening.
While they were hanging on his every tweet Monday night -- and reluctantly cracking up that he referred to Corey Gamble as "Calmye" -- they were nevertheless deeply concerned for his well-being and quick to go after anyone making light of the situation.
Me reading Kanye’s tweets knowing this isn’t funny but then seeing him to refer to Corey Gamble as “calmye.” pic.twitter.com/ZVEuuwaMcY
— Tamara Dhia (@tamaradhia) July 21, 2020 @tamaradhia
yall are treating kanye’s manic episode like a joke. “calmye” isnt funny. this stuff about drake isnt funny. this is concerning and i rly hope he doesnt harm himself rn.
— 🧊 (@_jawdin) July 21, 2020 @_jawdin
yall NEVER take black men’s mental health seriously.
KANYE needs HELP
It’s really sad seeing #calmye is trending because people think it’s funny that he’s having a manic episode. He desperately needs someone to intervene and that has been clear for the last couple years. PLEASE TAKE MENTAL HEALTH SERIOUSLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
— KIKI ✊🏾🇯🇲 (@kianab1996) July 21, 2020 @kianab1996
Me trying not to laugh right now because nothing is funny about this Kanye situation, but he keeps calling Kris’ boyfriend Calmye pic.twitter.com/lorUa4Hfz7
— Tennessee Mike (@TennesseeMike31) July 21, 2020 @TennesseeMike31
Whatever Kanye is going through right now is seriously bad... but him randomly calling Corey Gamble “calmye” just made me spit my water out. pic.twitter.com/iV1Jgo8Er5
— Zach. (@MrLutz18) July 21, 2020 @MrLutz18
I don’t give a damn about celebrity bullshit, but I feel bad for Kanye right now. He’s a human who is clearly in crisis and needs help.
— Jesse Dollemore (@Dollemore) July 21, 2020 @Dollemore
Kanye just on one right now but we should just provide support and not dog pile him for real. He’s going through a lot rn #CalmYe #Kanye2020
— Jack Shots (@DownToHoop) July 21, 2020 @DownToHoop
pls dont joke about kanye right now he's genuinely going through a crisis, his family agrees and has tried to get him help but hasnt succeeded as of rn. he's genuinely struggling with his mental health and yall need to realize its not just "haha big ego stupid man w silly tweets"
— ellie simp (@cmonaspyn) July 21, 2020 @cmonaspyn
Kanye West blatantly needs a level of care and support that he isn’t currently getting from the people in his life. The man is open about his struggles with having bipolar disorder. But, every time he goes through a period of mania, it gets turned into a meme or joke.
— Sister Outrider (@ClaireShrugged) July 19, 2020 @ClaireShrugged
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