Kanye West says he regrets the stressful situations he’s put his ex-wife Kim Kardashian through due to his social media outbursts since their divorce in early last year, but he still believes he’s doing right by their kids.
The rapper sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Good Morning America that aired on Thursday in which he discussed his relationship with Kardashian, their four children, the Gap, and his future political ambitions. In terms of his ex, West says he has a “new respect” for her, adding, “This is the mother of my children, and I apologize for any stress that I have caused, even in my frustration, because God calls me to be stronger. I need this person to be less stressed and of the best, sound mind, and as calm as possible to be able to raise those children at the end of the day.” But he also noted that he feels it’s his responsibility “as a dad and as a Christian” to speak out about what he sees as right and wrong for his children. “I have a right to have a voice on what my kids are wearing, what they’re watching, what they’re eating,” he said. “I have a platform where I get to say what so many dads can’t say out loud.”
West, who recently opened his own “gospel school,” Donda Academy, went on to say that he “absolutely” wants all of his children to attend. “I’m their dad. It has to be co-parenting. It’s not up to only the woman. Like, men have a choice also. Men’s voices matter,” the Grammy-winner said. According to him, the school gives “kids practical tools that they need in a world post the iPhone being created. So many schools are made to set kids up for industries that don’t even matter anymore.” Whereas, West explained, Donda Academy is focused on the cultivation of “practical skills” such as engineering, computer programming, and farming. He added that the school also has tutors who focus on specific areas of study and could “actually turn your kids into, like, geniuses. And if your kids are geniuses…they’re three grade levels ahead.” The rapper said the school is currently in its third year and has an enrollment of 82 students. Originally named the Yeezy Christian Academy, Donda Academy is located in Simi Valley, California and, according to the school’s website, its mission is to help students “learn fundamentals, grow in their faith, and experience two enrichment classes.”
And while it may sound like he’s already got plenty on his plate, West says despite failing on his first attempt, he still has some serious political aspirations. He explained while “that time wasn’t in God’s time,” he “absolutely” plans to run for president again at some point. The rapper pointed out that people mislabel him as a “radical” because of his faith in Christianity and his promotion of “the idea of family, the idea of God, the idea of protecting your children’s innocence for as long as possible.” He continued, “When you remove the love and fear of God, you open up the love and fear of everything else. And it’s easier to have sheep when people don’t have God. It’s easier to control the people if people are not controlled by God. Because then they can be controlled by how many likes they have or whatever’s happening on their TikTok or how much money or the perception that people have.” He concluded, “But we only have one audience here and that audience is God. And He’s watching us at all times. He’s got my back.”
