Mental Health in Hollywood

Kanye West is a man of big ideas.

From vowing to run for presidency in 2020, to his notorious concert “rants,” people either love or hate Kanye.

But what if Kanye’s rants stem from an unstable mental state?

There is a known mental health stigma in the United States. Many people believe that mental health sufferers can just “get over it.”

But the reality is mental health is as important to treat as a physical ailment.

West’s Saint Pablo Tour kicked off in August 2016, stemming from his heavily anticipated album, “Life of Pablo.”

Towards the middle of the tour, West became unhinged.

At a concert in San Jose on November 10th, 2016, the rapper’s show took a sharp turn.

After being an hour late to the concert (a common theme in West’s performances,) he came out, performed a few songs, and then began an epic rant covering all ground from politics to racism.

Though he had supported Clinton during the campaign trail, West called President-elect Trump, “a f****** genius” in regards to his campaign. He then dove into racism, saying black people shouldn’t focus on racial issues because, “The world is racist, OK? We are a racist country.”

It spiraled down-hill from there. He begged fellow rapper, Jay-Z, to “call him,” and then he knew he “had people who can kill him.” He begged the rapper to please call him.

It was then a hurricane of comments about Beyonce, Jay-Z, and politics. He then spent some time calling out the media, saying that “how’s this rant” and started a curse-riddled attack against the media.

Then, mic-drop.

He stormed off the stage. He only performed 4 songs. Fans, left feeling confused and angry, booed the rapper and took to social media to demand his return or a refund.

Kanye West’s mental foundation snapped.

The following Monday after his performance, West was admitted to the UCLA Medical Center, after a mental breakdown at his trainer’s house, where West’s physician, Dr. Michael Frazam, confirmed West is suffering from a “temporary psychosis due to sleep deprivation, dehydration, and exhaustion.”

The West attacks did not stop. People called him out on news site after news site, saying that “this is what happens” when you’re “arrogant,” “self-centered,” etc. They made jokes about the Kardashian family “ruining men” and said that West “had it coming.”

Even when Kanye appeared on the Ellen Show, his rants left the public feeling confused, and slightly humored.

This man is a clear representation of mental health in America, and more specifically in Hollywood.

Though no one is condoning West’s vicious comments towards anyone or anything, it is clear that ever since his mother passed away in 2007, West hasn’t been the same.

In album after after album, song after song, Kanye raps about his mother’s death: “Deep depression when my mama died” (lyrics from Mercy).

In Hollywood, where celebrities are dehumanized and expected to be for the general public’s entertainment, it’s easy to call people’s actions out when you only know limited information.

Time after time, Hollywood’s elite claim “exhaustion” for more serious mental health issues. From Mariah Carey, to Eminem, to Demi Moore, exhaustion has been sited to sedate the general public when there are more serious issues at hand.

Exhaustion has notoriously been sited for cases of mental health breakdowns, substance abuse, or a severe case of depression.

It’s important to note that celebrities don’t owe you anything. Kanye’s reps not confirming or admitting anything other than exhaustion is a social cue to stop asking.

You don’t have to love Kanye, but you have to respect a mental health illness when it presents itself.