Challenges in the Life of Kanye West in a Detailed Timeline
Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Kanye West. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
Kanye West, now known as Ye, is an influential American rapper and record producer celebrated for his diverse musical style and often controversial cultural and political opinions. Initially a producer for Chicago artists, he gained prominence at Roc-A-Fella Records, contributing to albums like Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001). His debut album, The College Dropout (2004), was critically acclaimed and spawned the hit "Slow Jamz." He achieved further success with chart-topping singles like "Gold Digger" (2005) and "Stronger" (2007) and "Carnival" (2024), solidifying his status as a major force in hip-hop and popular culture.
December 2006: Evel Knievel Lawsuit
In December 2006, Robert "Evel" Knievel sued Kanye West for trademark infringement in West's video for "Touch the Sky".
November 2007: Settlement of Evel Knievel Lawsuit
Days before his death in November 2007, Evel Knievel amicably settled his lawsuit against Kanye West.
November 2007: Death of his mother and end of Engagement
In November 2007, Kanye West's mother's death and the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer profoundly affected him.
2009: Interruption at 2009 MTV Video Music Awards
In 2009, Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, sparking widespread criticism and controversy.
2010: Apology for Bush Comment
In 2010, Kanye West apologized for his 2005 comment about George Bush, stating he "didn't have the grounds to call [Bush] a racist" and that he "was programmed to think from a victimized mentality".
October 2011: Premiere of Women's Fashion Label at Paris Fashion Week
In October 2011, West premiered his women's fashion label at Paris Fashion Week, receiving mixed-to-negative reviews.
2014: Misdemeanor Battery Conviction
In 2014, Kanye West was sentenced to serve two years' probation for a misdemeanor battery conviction after an altercation with a paparazzo.
2015: Civil Lawsuit Settled
In 2015, a civil lawsuit brought by a paparazzo against Kanye West was settled a week before it was due for trial.
November 19, 2016: Hospitalization for Mental Health
On November 19, 2016, Kanye West abruptly ended a concert and was subsequently committed to UCLA Medical Center due to hallucinations and paranoia. Initially described as "temporary psychosis" from dehydration and sleep deprivation, his mental state was severe enough to trigger his insurance policy covering 21 cancelled concerts. He was released from the hospital on November 30.
November 21, 2016: Saint Pablo Tour Cancellation and Hospitalization
On November 21, 2016, Kanye West cancelled the remaining dates of the Saint Pablo Tour and was later admitted for psychiatric observation at UCLA Medical Center due to a temporary psychosis.
2016: Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
In 2016, Kanye West was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, although he later told President Donald Trump that it was a misdiagnosis. This diagnosis was not made public until his 2018 album 'Ye'.
2016: Conviction Expunged
In 2016, an appeal to have Kanye West's conviction expunged from his criminal record was granted by a judge.
2018: Opioid Addiction Revelation
In 2018, Kanye West revealed in an interview that he had become addicted to opioids after being prescribed them following liposuction. He also disclosed addictions to alcohol, sex, and pornography, along with suicidal ideation.
2019: Acceptance of Bipolar Diagnosis
Reportedly in 2019, Kanye West had accepted his bipolar disorder diagnosis, but later suggested it had been a misdiagnosis in 2022.
July 2020: Divorce Possibility Acknowledged
In July 2020, Kanye West acknowledged the possibility of Kim Kardashian ending their marriage due to his adoption of anti-abortion views. He also wrote that the Kardashian family was attempting "to lock [him] up".
July 2020: Admission of Ignorance on Key Issues
In July 2020, West told Forbes that he is ignorant on issues such as taxes and foreign policy, during his presidential campaign.
November 4, 2020: Concession from Presidential Race
West conceded from the 2020 presidential race on November 4, 2020, receiving 66,365 votes in the 12 states he had ballot access in.
January 2022: Relationship with Julia Fox
In January 2022, actress Julia Fox confirmed that she was dating Kanye West. West publicly lashed out at Kardashian's new boyfriend, Pete Davidson, and was dropped as a performer at the Grammy Awards.
June 29, 2022: Copyright Infringement Complaint Filed
On June 29, 2022, a complaint was filed claiming Kanye West sampled Marshall Jefferson's 1986 house track "Move Your Body" without permission.
July 2022: Lawsuit by David Casavant Archive
In July 2022, Kanye West was sued for $416,000 by the fashion rental company the David Casavant Archive for failing to make payments on and return rented items.
September 2022: West Ends Deal with GAP
In September 2022, West announced that he was ending the deal with GAP.
October 2022: Adidas Partnership Terminated
In October 2022, Adidas terminated its partnership with West due to his antisemitic remarks.
October 2022: Net Worth Decline
In October 2022, Forbes estimated Kanye West's net worth had dropped to $400 million, largely due to Adidas terminating their partnership.
October 2022: Controversy and Loss of Sponsors
In October 2022, Kanye West was widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships after making a series of antisemitic statements, including denying the Holocaust.
December 2022: Speculation About Autism
In December 2022, Kanye West suggested he might be autistic.
2022: Antisemitic Statements and Fallout
In late 2022, Kanye West made a series of antisemitic statements, leading to the termination of numerous collaborations and partnerships.
July 2023: Twitter Account Restoration
In July 2023, Twitter reversed the ban on Kanye West's account, citing assurances that he would not post harmful content.
January 2024: Dental Work and Alleged Drug Supply
In January 2024, dentist Thomas Connelly installed permanent titanium prosthodontics for Kanye West and allegedly moved into West's apartment building to supply him with nitrous oxide.
August 2024: Allegations of Nitrous Oxide Addiction
In August 2024, Kanye West's former Chief of Staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, claimed in an affidavit that West was addicted to nitrous oxide. He alleged that dentist Thomas Connelly was supplying the drugs for $50,000 a month.
2024: Lawsuits for Wrongful Termination and Sexual Assault
In 2024, Kanye West faced lawsuits for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, breach of contract by a former assistant, and sexual assault and strangulation by a former model. West denied the allegations.
February 2025: Diagnosis of Autism
In February 2025, Kanye West stated that he had received a professional diagnosis of autism.
February 2025: Antisemitic Rant and Super Bowl Ad
In February 2025, Kanye West went on an anti-Semitic rant on X, professing his love for Hitler, and purchased local advertising during Super Bowl LIX which directed viewers to his website, where he was selling a swastika t-shirt.
