Kanye West is at the center of a new documentary titled In Whose Name?, but sources close to the rapper claim he did not approve or authorize the film.
A source told Us Weekly that the documentary is “an unauthorized film” and explained that while the footage has been collected properly, neither West nor his company Yeezy, has seen, authorized, or approved the final product.
“The footage we have seen so far, we believe, was collected in the proper way. But neither Ye nor [his company] Yeezy has seen, authorized, or approved the final product,” the insider revealed.
In Whose Name?, directed by Nico Ballesteros, is set for release on September 19. Ballesteros, however, maintains that the film is entirely independent.
“Nico Ballesteros had access to Ye during the making of In Whose Name?, allowing him to document moments that became integral to the film’s narrative,” a rep for Ballesteros stated. “While Ye is a central figure in the story, he did not have approval rights over any of the film’s content or editorial decisions, ensuring it remains an independent creative work.”
Ballesteros reportedly started filming West when he was just 18, capturing over 3,000 hours of behind-the-scenes footage spanning six years. This footage includes pivotal moments in West’s life, such as his divorce from Kim Kardashian, mental health struggles, and controversial statements.
The first trailer for the documentary, released on August 13, opens with West saying in a voice-over, “I’m off my meds for five months now.” Kim Kardashian, his ex-wife, is then heard saying, “Your personality was not like this a few years ago!”
The couple, who married in 2014 and divorced in 2022, share four children: North, 12; Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 6. The trailer also showcases clips from West’s Sunday Service choir, his presidential campaign, and his controversial claim in 2020 that he and Kardashian had considered abortion during her pregnancy with North.
According to the film’s synopsis, In Whose Name? offers a candid portrait of West, examining his struggles with bipolar disorder, mental health, fame, and personal identity, while also reflecting on the broader human condition and its contradictions.