Kanye West admits being "functioning alcoholic"

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: April 15 2020 | 18:38

Last updated: April 15 2020 | 23:51

Kanye West admits to having realised that he was "a functioning alcoholic" after developing a habit of drinking vodka and orange juice during the day.

Kanye West has revealed that he has given up booze after realising that he was "a functioning alcoholic".

The 42-year-old rapper has caused concern for his mental wellbeing several times over the last few years and in 2016 admitted himself to hospital for "temporary psychosis", which led to 21 tour dates being cancelled.

In 2018 West revealed that he had an opioid addiction and was battling suicidal thoughts "all the time", then in an interview with David Letterman last year, he claimed to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Now the 'Gold Digger' singer has opened up on his alcohol addiction, admitting that at one point he had grown accustomed to drinking vodka during the day.

West told GQ: "One day I was in my office working on the couture collection, and there was some Grey Goose in the fridge and I was just going to get a daytime drink, and I looked and thought, 'Devil, you're not going to beat me today.'

"That one statement is like a tattoo. I haven't had a drink since I realised I needed to take it day by day, but I never owned up, or was even told, 'Hey, you're a functioning alcoholic.'

"People have called me a crazy person, people have called me everything, but not a functioning alcoholic. And I would be drinking orange juice and Grey Goose in the morning."

West, who now goes by the name 'Ye', went on to confirm that he is now a "born-again Christian".