Joe Budden has responded after news broke that the rapper-turned-podcast host has been charged with lewdness after allegedly standing outside his neighbor’s property while naked.
On New Year’s Eve (December 31), Edgewater Police Department in New Jersey confirmed in a press release that Budden was charged earlier in December over the alleged incident.
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He is accused of standing outside his neighbor’s apartment door “completely naked” in the early hours of December 4 and “attempting to enter a code into the door keypad several times before reentering his own residence across the hall,” according to police.
Taking to X following the press release, Budden wrote: “Yall so dramatic lol.”
He also made light of the situation with a meme to his Instagram Story, showing a man laughing as he shows someone else something on his phone.
Yall so dramatic lol
— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) December 31, 2024
Joe Budden’s lawyer Nima Ameri told TMZ that his client is disappointed by the charges being made public and that he is pursuing his own legal action against the neighbor.
“Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin’s press release. Mr. Budden has been waiting weeks for his cross complaints to be processed which include substantially more serious charges include possible felony charges against the persons behind these charges against him,” Ameri said.
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“The Chief has in our opinion sat on those but instead used his time to gain some free publicity for himself. Chief Martin should seek publicity by doing notable policing not inflaming disorderly person allegations.”
The attorney further accused Edgewater Police chief Donald A. Martin of racism: “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.
“Our research has not shown a single press release on a disorderly person charge on the police website this year. His choice to single out Mr. Budden in our opinion is self motivated and based off of Mr. Budden’s race and celebrity status.”
Budden himself also appeared to reference the incident in question in a recent episode, blaming it on his tendency to sleepwalk.
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“I just sleptwalk somewhere that I shouldn’t have sleptwalked,” he said. “And you know how I sleep: butt-ass [naked]! Good naked sleepwalking, I just did it again [laughs].”
The press release notes that “these charges are merely accusations and and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” A court date is set for later this month.
