Joe Budden is in the spotlight again, but not for his music or podcasting. The rapper found himself confronting allegations of lewd behavior after an unusual incident at his neighbor’s apartment.
On New Year’s Eve, the Edgewater Police Department in New Jersey released news that Joe Budden was charged with lewdness. The charge stems from an incident earlier in December when Budden allegedly stood naked outside his neighbor’s door in the early hours of the morning. He reportedly attempted to enter a code into the door’s keypad multiple times before returning to his apartment across the hall.
In response to the charges, Budden took to social media, dismissing the situation with a post on X, simply stating, “Y’all so dramatic lol.” He also shared a meme on Instagram Story, adding a humorous tone to the incident and showing he’s not taking it too seriously.
Budden’s lawyer, Nima Ameri, expressed disappointment over the public announcement of the charges. According to Ameri, Budden is pursuing legal action against the neighbor for what he claims are far more serious allegations. The lawyer accused the police chief of seeking publicity through the case, suggesting the actions were racially motivated due to Budden’s race and fame.
Ameri argues that the lewdness charge is minor and has not led to an arrest, insisting Budden will defend himself in court rather than in the media. Meanwhile, the police chief, Donald A. Martin, has been criticized for allegedly prioritizing the lewdness allegations over other complaints that Budden has filed.
In a curious twist, Joe Budden has referred to his notorious sleepwalking habits in addressing the incident. On a recent podcast episode, he admitted, “I just sleepwalked somewhere that I shouldn’t have, and you know how I sleep: butt-ass [naked]!” He made light of his situation, suggesting his sleepwalking was to blame for the event.
The press release emphasized that these are merely charges, and Budden remains innocent until proven guilty in court. As the legal proceedings loom, Budden seems determined to face them with a mix of humor and resolve.
As Joe Budden prepares to battle the charges in court, it’s clear he’s taking a light-hearted approach to the serious situation. Whether due to sleepwalking or a misunderstanding, Budden intends to defend his reputation and aims to emerge unscathed from the legal fray.
