Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, recently described himself as “the walking, living embodiment of anger” during a church group discussion led by controversial pastor Jesse Lee Peterson.
The conversation came as Ye continues to stir headlines in 2025, following another round of Nazi-linked controversies. Peterson, known for his MAGA-leaning views and social media push to rebrand July as “White History Month,” has echoed some of Ye’s past provocations—like the infamous 2022 “White Lives Matter” shirt.
“I think I’m the walking, living embodiment of anger,” Ye told the group, prompting Peterson to ask why he hasn’t let go of that anger—then inviting him to introduce himself to the others.
“My name is Ye,” he said, noting he “heard about [Peterson] from Hassan”—likely referring to collaborator Hassan Khaffaf, who previously appeared on Peterson’s podcast.
As the discussion unfolded, Ye pointed to “different events throughout my life” as the source of his anger. Peterson then asked if Hassan had told him he needed to “forgive your mother,” suggesting, in his view, that Ye’s anger stemmed from her. Ye admitted this was the first time he’d heard that take, but said he appreciated the “really stern, black-and-white approach” to the subject.
“I feel that I see clarity in it,” Ye said, responding to Peterson’s push for him to forgive both parents.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Ye spoke about feeling like his internal GPS was always “re-routing,” and admitted he wasn’t sure “how to answer” the question of who he is.
If you’re curious, the footage is available—but if you’d rather skip the rest, jump ahead to around the one-hour, five-minute mark where Ye’s voice comes in, even though he’s not visible on screen.
Donda West, Ye’s late mother and the namesake of his 2021 album Donda, passed away in 2007 at the age of 58. Her influence runs deep through his work, inspiring not only the album’s concept but countless songs and creative projects throughout his career. Just a year after her passing, Ye dropped 808s & Heartbreak—a raw, emotionally charged album that’s widely seen as one of his most groundbreaking.
On the music front, fans are anticipating a refined version of Bully, a track that previously surfaced in an unfinished form. It’s reportedly set to drop later this month, though—as with all things Ye—that timeline could easily change.
