Halsey asks fans not to mock Kanye West for bipolar disorder: ‘A manic episode isn’t a joke’

Both Halsey and West have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Singer Halsey has asked fans not to mock Kanye West for struggling with bipolar disorder.

The “You Should Be Sad” singer expressed sympathy for West after he was accused of having a “breakdown” and “needing help” during a presidential campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday (19 July).

Halsey, who like West has been diagnosed with the mental health disorder, tweeted on Monday (20 July) night: “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 isn’t a joke. 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.”

She continued: “If you wanna think someone is an a******, go ahead. Lots of people with mental illnesses are great. Lots of them are a******s. Because they are people. With nuanced personalities.

“But making jokes specifically targeted towards bipolar hurts more than the 1 person ur angry with. Sincerely, Human Being with a Decade Long Bipolar Diagnosis.”

West revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, describing the mental health condition as a “superpower” and explaining in 2019 that he wouldn’t be using the term crazy “loosely in future”.

During his presidential rally, West told crowds that he and his wife Kim Kardashian had considered aborting their daughter North, as well as criticising slavery abolitionist Harriet Tubman, saying: “Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people.”