Ye is dismissing claims that he spent part of his Jakarta concert deliberately provoking the audience.
A clip from his first-ever performance in Indonesia recently went viral, showing Ye trying to get the crowd to sing “Heartless” the way he wanted. In the footage, he can be heard directing the audience on how to perform the song before stopping them several times and restarting.
Ye responded to a video of the moment on X, addressing claims that he was ragebaiting the concertgoers. “Bro This shit was a vibe The crowd was very loud It’s called rock and roll,” he wrote.
Ye’s Oct. 24 performance at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium was the only Southeast Asian stop on his Ye Live Concert Tour supporting his album Bully. Reports estimated the crowd at around 78,000, with the show featuring his 360-degree Globe Stage production.
Jakarta has become a rare major market for Ye following his exclusion from several Western markets over his previous antisemitic remarks.
Earlier this year, Ye issued a public apology for his antisemitic behavior in a full-page advertisement published in The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 26. Titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” the letter addressed his past comments and use of Nazi imagery, with Ye attributing his behavior to struggles with bipolar disorder and what he described as a previously undiagnosed brain injury.
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people,” he wrote. Ye acknowledged that his condition did not excuse his actions, pledging to seek treatment and take responsibility for his behavior.
He also apologized to the Black community, revealing that he was working toward stability through medication, therapy, exercise and lifestyle changes. Ye explained that focusing his energy on music, clothing and design was part of his journey.
The letter came after years of backlash over his antisemitic statements, including the release of “Heil Hitler” in 2025. Ye concluded by asking for patience while recognizing that forgiveness would have to be earned, writing, “I’m not asking for sympathy, or a free pass, though I aspire to earn your forgiveness.”
