On Jan. 2, 2025, news broke that rapper and podcast host Joe Budden has been charged with lewdness after an incident that allegedly occurred on Dec. 4, 2024. The Edgewater Police Department in New Jersey confirmed that Budden was charged for reportedly standing outside his neighbor’s apartment completely naked and attempting to enter a code into the door keypad multiple times.
The incident and charges
According to police reports, Budden was seen in the early hours of Dec. 4, standing outside his neighbor’s door in a state of undress. After several attempts to access the apartment, he returned to his own residence across the hall. This incident led to the charges being filed against him, which were made public on New Year’s Eve.
Joe Budden’s reaction
In response to the charges, Budden took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he dismissed the situation with a light-hearted comment: “Y’all so dramatic lol.” He further shared a humorous meme on his Instagram Story, showcasing a man laughing while showing something on his phone, seemingly poking fun at the seriousness of the allegations.
Legal representation and counterclaims
Budden’s attorney, Nima Ameri, expressed disappointment over the public nature of the charges, stating that his client is pursuing legal action against the neighbor involved. Ameri emphasized that Budden has been waiting for weeks for his own cross complaints to be processed, which reportedly include more serious allegations against those who made the claims against him.
“Mr. Budden is saddened by Police Chief Martin’s press release,” Ameri stated. “The chief has, in our opinion, sat on those but instead used his time to gain some free publicity for himself.” The attorney also accused Edgewater Police Chief Donald A. Martin of racism, arguing that the charges against Budden are minor and should not have been highlighted in such a public manner.
Ameri further criticized the police chief’s decision to single out Budden, suggesting that it was motivated by the rapper’s race and celebrity status. He noted that there had been no other press releases regarding similar disorderly conduct charges on the police department’s website that year, implying that Budden’s case was treated differently due to his public profile.
Budden’s sleepwalking explanation
In a recent episode of his podcast, Budden hinted at the incident, attributing it to his tendency to sleepwalk. He humorously recounted, “I just sleepwalk somewhere that I shouldn’t have sleepwalked. And you know how I sleep: butt-ass [naked]! Good naked sleepwalking, I just did it again [laughs].” This light-hearted take on the situation contrasts sharply with the serious nature of the charges against him.
The police department has stated that the charges against Budden are merely accusations and that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A court date is set for later this month, where the legal proceedings will continue to unfold.
