Joe Budden has been charged with lewdness after an unusual incident involving his neighbor in Edgewater, New Jersey. According to a press release from the Edgewater Police Department, the rapper-turned-podcaster was charged earlier this month for allegedly standing outside his neighbor’s apartment completely naked on December 4. Reports indicate that Budden was attempting to enter a code into the door keypad multiple times before returning to his own residence across the hall.
The incident was reportedly captured by the neighbor’s doorbell camera and witnessed live by the resident and their children. While the charges have been made public, the police emphasized that these are merely accusations and that Budden is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In response to the charges, Budden’s attorney, Nima Ameri, expressed disappointment over the public nature of the allegations and mentioned that his client is pursuing legal action against the neighbor. Ameri criticized Edgewater Police Chief Martin for releasing details of the case, suggesting that the chief was seeking publicity at Budden’s expense. He also raised concerns about potential racial motivations behind the charges, noting that Budden is looking forward to addressing the matter in court rather than in the media.
Budden has not yet commented publicly on the charges, but he has previously discussed issues with his neighbors on his podcast. He has hinted at the incident, attributing it to his sleepwalking habit, jokingly stating, “I just sleepwalked somewhere that I shouldn’t have sleepwalked… Good naked sleepwalking, I just did it again.”
As this situation unfolds, it raises questions about the intersection of celebrity, privacy, and the legal system.
