Lady Gaga defends Kanye West against 'mental illness' ridicule: 'I support and love you brother'

Pop star Lady Gaga has become the latest celebrity to express support for hospitalised rapper Kanye West. As the hip-hop star receives treatment at UCLA Medical Center following a "psychiatric emergency," Gaga has stepped in to slam critics ridiculing West's "possible mental illness".

West, 39, was rushed to the Los Angeles medical facility on 21 November for reported exhaustion and dehydration. Prior to being admitted into hospital, the Golddigger rapper cancelled the rest of his Saint Pablo tour following a string of on-stage meltdowns leading many to question his state of mind.

Sending positivity to West, Lady Gaga tweeted on 23 November: "It's not funny to joke about anyone's possible or not possible mental illness, this is a sensitive time for many. Let's be kind & loving. While I don't agree with everything he does I hope the public shows compassion and [love] for @kanyewest and each other. One love. One Race."

The Perfect Illusion singer added: "@kanyewest i support & love u brother, I see in you bravery & courage to stop this tour & take care of YOU. You are a GREAT artist."

Other artists in the music world have showed support for West, with Chance The Rapper telling the BBC: "I want to extend a special prayer to my big brother Kanye West. I know there's a lot of weird folks out there but you already know that I'm a hundred grand. I want to just extend this prayer and this love from all the way in Britain. We might come home early to see this. Happy Thanksgiving."

West's close friend and longtime collaborator John Legend added: "We were with Kim [Kardashian] actually, you know, right before all of that. I was concerned by what I saw, so hopefully he's getting some rest and some time to figure things out."

Yet to publicly comment are West's former friends Beyonce and Jay Z, both of whom the rapper slammed during one of his recent stage rants. Despite West's gripe with the married couple, a source told Hollywood Life that they have "no hard feelings" towards the Grammy-winner.

The Famous rapper's wife Kim Kardashian has reportedly remained by his hospital bedside after flying back to Los Angeles on Monday from New York City. People magazine reports that West is likely to spend Thanksgiving Day (24 November) in hospital, although it is not known if he will be visited by the couple's two children − daughter, North, three, and 11-month-old son, Saint.