I watched Kanye talk about porn addiction. I didn’t plan to. I was folding laundry. The video kept playing. And then he said he’d struggled since he was a kid. My chest went tight. I’ve been there. Not with fame, but with a phone in my hand and a head full of noise.
In 2022, he went even further, saying the habit had “destroyed” his family and blasting how pervasive porn is in Hollywood (source).
Here’s the thing: this isn’t tea. It’s heavy. But it’s real. And real can help.
Quick take
Short version? I think Kanye naming it helped. He didn’t give a clean “how-to.” He gave a messy “me too.” Parts felt bold. Parts felt rough. But the door he opened matters.
If you want more context on why Kanye’s confession rocked so many people (me included), there’s a solid breakdown here: Kanye West’s porn addiction and how it hit me. It unpacks the interviews and the impact in a way that pairs nicely with this piece.
What he actually said (the parts that stuck)
I’m not guessing here. I watched the interviews and clips during his Jesus Is King era, and some from before.
- He said he saw a Playboy magazine when he was very young. He pointed to that as the start.
A 2019 sit-down with Zane Lowe gives the full backstory and how that early exposure fueled years of struggle (detailed interview). - He said porn messed with his head and choices. Not once. Over and over.
- He talked about faith helping him fight it. Sunday Service. Prayer. Structure.
- He asked people working on his album to avoid sex before marriage during the process. That was a big ask. He tied it to focus and spirit.
- He said the internet made it easy to fall back. Easy click. Hard stop.
If you want a quick reality check on how those “easy clicks” are engineered to pull you in, open Wild Porn Reviews for a minute and notice how every thumbnail begs for one more scroll.
That same frictionless design shows up in chat-based platforms too, and if you’re curious about how modern sexting services have evolved, this explainer on the top sexting sites maps out the most popular apps, compares safety features and pricing, and shows you how to protect your boundaries before diving in.
Likewise, the throwback-style classifieds that have resurfaced across the web can be just as magnetic—scrolling the local listings on Backpage Margate offers a real-time look at how quickly “just browsing” can turn into hours of clicking, plus tips on spotting genuine ads versus scams so you stay safe if curiosity pulls you that direction.
None of that was graphic. But it was plain. And you know what? Plain hits hard.
How it landed with me
I felt two things at once. Hope and a little side-eye.
Hope, because shame grows in the dark. When a big voice says, “I struggled,” shame shrinks. I’ve had late nights where I swore I’d stop. Then I didn’t. Hearing him say the urge can own your calendar? That felt true.
Side-eye, because fame can blur things. A rule like “no sex while we work” sounds clean on paper. But in real life, bodies are messy. Hearts are messy. Not everyone’s path looks like church and choirs.
My real-life test: what I tried after watching
I didn’t just nod and move on. I tried stuff that day. Some stuck. Some didn’t.
- I moved my phone charger to the kitchen. No more “just one more scroll” in bed.
- I used Screen Time to block adult sites. It’s not perfect. But it’s a speed bump, and speed bumps help.
- I told one friend. Not a group. Just one. He texts me “You good?” at 10:30 p.m. It’s simple. It works more than you’d think. If you’re the partner on the sidelines wondering how to help, this candid piece on how one woman helped her husband with porn addiction shows the kind of support that actually moves the needle.
- I swapped late-night scrolling for a walk around the block. Ten minutes. Feels silly. Also magic.
- I used an app called Freedom two nights a week. It blocks the stuff that pulls me in.
- I wrote a sticky note: “Urges pass. Breathe 90 seconds.” It sits on my lamp. I actually use it.
Did I slip? Yep. Twice in the first month. I owned it. Then I got back on the wagon. Small wins stack.
What Kanye’s take gets right
- Naming the wound. He didn’t pretty it up. Addiction can bend love, time, and money. He said as much.
- Ritual and rhythm. Sunday Service, prayer, music—structure helps. Even if your “church” is a morning run and a black coffee.
- Community. He made it public. I made it personal. Both cut shame.
Where it felt off for me
- Big rules, low tools. Telling people to stop without showing “how” can backfire. Filters, habits, buddies—these are the nuts and bolts. I wanted more nuts and bolts.
- All-or-nothing tone. Some folks need gradual steps. Cold turkey can snap and make folks hide.
- Fame echo. Cameras can make hard things look simple. They’re not.
Real talk: signs that mirrored my life
- Time slip. “I’ll check one thing” turns into an hour. Laundry still wet.
- Mood swing. Irritable the next morning. Short with people who don’t deserve it.
- Avoidance. Skipping calls. Dodging plans. Feeling “busy,” but it’s not work. It’s the pull.
If you nodded at any of that, you’re not broken. You’re human with a habit that learned your schedule.
What actually helped long-term
- Make friction. One extra step between you and the thing. A code only your friend knows. A laptop in the living room, not your room.
- Replace, don’t erase. Swap late-night screens for a book, a walk, or a podcast you like. Empty space pulls you back.
- Track streaks, not perfection. I used a paper calendar. X for clean days. Circle for slips. The line of Xs grew. That felt good.
- Name triggers. Mine are stress and being alone after 10 p.m. Once I named them, I planned around them.
Need some proof that the slow grind works? Check out this brutally honest porn addiction recovery timeline—week by week. Seeing the peaks and dips mapped out can make your own graph feel a lot less scary.
Cultural note I can’t shake
When a big artist says “I struggle,” barbershops and group chats actually talk. That’s rare. Hip-hop, church, therapy—these worlds don’t always sit at the same table. For a minute, they did. I liked that.
Who this speaks to
- If you’re tired of hiding and want language for it.
- If you want permission to say, “This hurts my life.”
- If you like the idea of ritual, even if it’s not church.
If you need a clinical plan, you’ll want more than a headline. A counselor. A group. A workbook. I’ve used Celebrate Recovery and a CBT workbook on habits. Both helped.
My bottom line
Kanye didn’t hand me a perfect map. He held up a mirror. That was enough to start.
I wish he’d shared more practical steps. I wish the tone was less “big move” and more “small daily.” But I’m glad he spoke. It nudged me to speak too.
One last thing. If you’re reading this and feel that tug in your gut, try one tiny change tonight. Move the charger. Text a friend. Block one site. Not all of them—just one. Small is honest, and honest sticks.
I’m still walking this out. Some days are loud. Some are calm. But now the light’s on. And that changes everything.