Joe Budden, the 44-year-old retired rapper turned podcaster, is used to calling out others for their public missteps, but as 2024 came to a close, he found himself in the midst of controversy. Budden is addressing the backlash over his recent indecent exposure charge, an incident that has sparked reactions from fans and law enforcement alike.
On December 4, Budden was charged for allegedly standing naked outside a neighbor’s door in Edgewater, New Jersey, and attempting to enter the neighbor’s apartment. The situation, which might have gone unnoticed, only came to light when the Edgewater Police Department publicly addressed it on December 31. Despite the seriousness of the charge, Budden tried to brush it off on social media, responding to the public outcry with his usual laid-back approach.
On X (formerly Twitter), he tweeted, “Y’all so dramatic lol,” attempting to downplay the incident. On Instagram, Budden shared a meme featuring former NBA player Jeff Teague’s shocked expression, paired with a caption that seemed to imply the situation had been blown out of proportion. However, the fact that recent episodes of The Joe Budden Podcast were recorded at co-host Parks’ home instead of Budden’s apartment suggests that there may be more to the story.
In a candid moment on his podcast, Budden gave his side of the events, saying, “I just sleepwalked somewhere that I shouldn’t have sleepwalked. And you know how I sleep: butt-a** [naked]! Good naked sleepwalking, I just did it again [laughs].” His lighthearted tone seemed to reflect his attempt to minimize the drama surrounding the incident.
However, Budden’s legal team is taking a more serious stance. His attorney, Nima Ameri, released a statement to TMZ regarding the charges. “Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin’s press release,” Ameri said. “Mr. Budden has been waiting weeks for his cross complaints to be processed, which include substantially more serious charges [including] possible felony charges against the persons behind these charges against him.”
According to Budden and his team, they believe the actions of Edgewater Police Chief Martin are part of a publicity stunt. “The Chief has, in our opinion, sat on those [complaints] but instead used his time to gain some free publicity for himself,” the statement read. “Chief Martin should seek publicity by doing notable policing, not inflaming disorderly person allegations. The allegations against Mr. Budden are a minor charge, not even resulting in an arrest. A charge Mr. Budden is looking forward to beating in court on the merits, not in the press. The Chief’s comments are reckless, and, in our opinion, racially motivated.”
As the legal process continues, it seems Budden is resolute in his belief that the charge against him is exaggerated. Whether the public agrees with him or not, only time will tell as this case unfolds. For now, Joe Budden is maintaining his signature nonchalant demeanor, even in the face of what has become one of the more bizarre headlines of the year.
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