The Kanye West documentary In Whose Name? is now available for streaming following its theatrical release on Sept. 19. Viewers can currently rent or purchase the film across major VOD platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon, Google, YouTube, and Fandango.
Directed by Nico Ballesteros, In Whose Name? was filmed over a six-year period and assembled from thousands of hours of footage. The documentary explores pivotal chapters in Ye’s career, tracing his artistic evolution while also confronting the controversies and mental health struggles that have shaped his public narrative in recent years.
Ballesteros, who began filming West as a teenager, described the project as both a personal and professional turning point. In a statement shared with Deadline, the filmmaker explained that he was just 18 years old when he entered Ye’s orbit, transitioning rapidly from a middle-class upbringing to traveling on private jets and observing one of the world’s most famous figures up close. Without a defined subject at the time, Ballesteros said Ye’s world ultimately became the foundation for his growth as a documentarian and the catalyst for In Whose Name?.
The director also reflected on the response the film has received since its debut, noting that expanding its availability beyond theaters allows its themes to reach a wider audience. According to Ballesteros, the documentary aims to examine American belief systems, power structures, and identity through the lens of Ye’s life and legacy, offering context to both his influence and his controversies.
The streaming release follows Ballesteros’ earlier claims that this version of the film would differ significantly from the theatrical cut. In a now-deleted post on X shared in September, the director hinted that the streaming edit would “change everything,” describing the theatrical rollout as a strategic step toward delivering the full vision of the project.
Since its initial release, In Whose Name? has generated significant online discussion, fueled by viral scenes that include a heated exchange between Ye and Kris Jenner, as well as a tense backstage confrontation with Michael Che at Saturday Night Live. With the documentary now widely accessible, those moments; and the broader portrait they help form, are expected to reach an even larger audience.
