Halsey sympathizes with Kanye after tweets spark mental health discussion

Halsey is coming to Kanye West‘s aid after his recent South Carolina presidential rally sparked worry about his mental state. In a series of tweets, Halsey asks the negative comments and jokes surrounding mental illness to stop.

She also uses the opportunity to open about her own experiences with bipolar disorder.

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Earlier this month, West announced his plans to run for president in the 2020 election. He then held his first rally in South Carolina over the weekend. During the rally, West became chaotic with his speech and his behavior caused many onlookers to worry about his health.

Following the rally, West released a series of now-deleted tweets that caused more individuals to worry. The tweets followed other concerning comments he’s made recently including his remarks about abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

West has been open about his mental health in the past. In 2016, he was hospitalized after displaying erratic behavior. Then, in 2018, he revealed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

West previously opened up about his diagnosis on David Letterman‘s Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.

“What I want to say about the bipolar thing is because it has the word ‘bi’ in it, it has the idea of, like, split personality,” he says. “Well, that works for me because I’m a Gemini, but when you ramp up, it expresses your personality more. You can become almost more adolescent in your expression or border into places. This is the specific experience that I’ve had over the past two years because I’ve only been diagnosed for two years now.”

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Responses to West’s behavior have been mixed so far. Some are coming to West’s defense while others are using the recent events as a catalyst for new memes. Now, Halsey is showing support for West while identifying his recent behavior as a possible “manic episode.”

“No jokes right now,” she tweets. “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. If you can’t offer understanding or sympathy, offer your silence.”

No 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

She then uses the opportunity to talk more about bipolar disorder. She notes that the negative comments associated with mental health are often the reasons why some never get diagnosed or keep their illnesses “quiet.”

“A lot of people you know probably have bipolar disorder and you aren’t aware of it,” she continues. “Taking this opportunity to make offensive remarks and vilify 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.

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

For Halsey, she says there’s a difference between being sensitive to someone’s mental health and holding them accountable for problematic things they’ve said or done.

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“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.”

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

She continues to say that the jokes made about mental health don’t just hurt one individual. Instead, they impact an entire community.

“If you wanna think someone is an asshole, go ahead,” she tweets. “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.”

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

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Halsey concludes her Twitter statement by sharing that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over ten years ago.

“Sincerely, Human Being with a Decade Long Bipolar Diagnosis.”

Sincerely, Human Being with a Decade Long Bipolar Diagnosis.

— h (@halsey) July 21, 2020

Now, Halsey isn’t the only celebrity speaking up about mental health. Demi Lovato also recently tweeted her thoughts on mental illness. Lovato also has bipolar disorder and has faced other mental health challenges in the past.

“It would be nice if for once people can put down the meme making apps and pray for someone who’s struggling with mental illness,” she tweets. “What happened to compassion?”

It would be nice if for once people can put down the meme making apps and pray for someone who’s struggling with mental illness. What happened to compassion?

— Team Demi (@ddlovato) July 21, 2020

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“It’s also amazing to me that people really think they actually know what some celebrities are going thru,” she continues. “Maybe take a step back and remember you don’t know everything about everyone even if you do watch them on tv.”

It’s also amazing to me that people really think they actually know what some celebrities are going thru. Maybe take a step back and remember you don’t know everything about everyone even if you do watch them on tv

— Team Demi (@ddlovato) July 21, 2020

“Do NOT pretend to know about someone’s mental illness if you do not personally know them. Check yourself.”

Do NOT pretend to know about someone’s mental illness if you do not personally know them. Check yourself.

— Team Demi (@ddlovato) July 21, 2020

On July 9, TMZ reported that West’s loved ones are worried about his mental health and believe he’s going through a manic episode. The report says “our sources say his family and those close to him are worried, but they believe things will stabilize as they have in the past.”

What are your thoughts on Demi Lovato and Halsey’s tweets? Let us know in the comments below.