Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s Marriage Reportedly Strained Amid Mental Health Struggles

Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, have faced serious difficulties in their marriage, according to sources close to the couple.

A source tells People that Censori had been unhappy for some time and tried to leave West on several occasions before he sought treatment for his mental health. The source said the relationship had been under strain long before West publicly addressed his past antisemitic remarks.

West, 48, recently issued a full-page apology ad in The Wall Street Journal and participated in an email interview with Vanity Fair. In both, he discussed his bipolar disorder and took responsibility for his past behavior.

In the Vanity Fair interview, West said he experienced a “deep depressive episode” after his medication was changed during a long manic period. He said this led him to enter a rehab facility in Switzerland. According to West, Censori recognized his mental health decline and supported him in seeking treatment.

A separate source familiar with West told PEOPLE that the rapper has been stuck in a long-running cycle. When his mental health worsens, he creates controversy that damages his personal and professional relationships. When he later becomes more stable, he fully understands the harm he caused, which leads to guilt and emotional distress.

Music executive John Monopoly, who has worked with West for decades, said in a statement that West is now in a better place. Monopoly said West is taking accountability for his actions and is making a serious effort to manage his mental health.

Earlier this week, West’s open letter in The Wall Street Journal blamed untreated neurological damage and bipolar disorder for his past antisemitic remarks. He referenced a 2002 car accident that he said caused an undiagnosed brain injury. West wrote that his condition does not excuse his behavior and said he deeply regrets his actions, adding that he is not a Nazi and does not hate Jewish people.

West’s recent apology follows years of controversy. In 2022, Adidas ended its partnership with Yeezy after West made antisemitic statements. He has also faced legal issues, including a lawsuit filed by a former Yeezy employee who accused him of antisemitic harassment. That case is currently on hold.

West and Censori were first linked in January 2023 and are believed to have married in a private ceremony, though reports indicated no marriage certificate was filed at the time. West has publicly referred to Censori as his wife and as a stepmother to his children.

West was previously married to Kim Kardashian from 2014 to 2021. The former couple share four children: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm.