Joe Budden has offered Ari Lennox a nominal apology, though his tone and temperament suggest that he wasn’t really serious.
In a clip from The Joe Budden Podcast that was published on Tuesday (January 23), the Slaughterhouse MC took a moment to let the R&B singer know that he regrets how he made her feel, claiming that he wants to “try to set a new example in 2024.”
“In a[n] industry that has historically not been great to women, now is not the time for any woman out there to feel like they are under attack, unheard or not seen,” he said. “And if I’ve ever added to that, then I want to do my best to change the trajectory.”
However, he then pivoted.
He said that Lennox had “attempted to demean and defame a Black man” — him — “while summoning the powers universally of Black women, while simultaneously bigging up a white man who fetishizes [presumably Budden’s former co-host Rory, who Lennox praised] — all on Martin Luther King Day.”
He ended an analogy about her character that made his initial mea culpa seem like a deadpan joke, especially since all his co-hosts were quite visibly amused by it all.
“This chick is a bag of fuckin’ mixed nuts — mixed nuts come from everywhere,” he said. “This bitch is all the nuts combined and I think she’s done a great job of proving the exact point that I was trying to make in the last broadcast, and we shower her with love.”
Budden had previously criticized the Dreamville star over her comments about tour with Rod Wave, during which she was pelted with a bottle. While Budden praised Lennox for being a talented artist, he took issue with her complaining about the arena trek and said that she should have been grateful for the opportunity.
Lennox did not take the kindly to the comments, clapping back by belittling the New Jersey rapper-turned-podcaster’s music career during a fiery Instagram Live broadcast last week.
Joe Budden Tackles Ari Lennox Vs. MacG Podcast & Braces For The Backlash
“I don’t know what Joe Budden’s obsession is with me, but what I will say is that somebody needs to tell him to stop touching them dogs,” she began. “He’s weird and he’s gross. He has smoke mouth. He’s disgusting! And he’s a failure like Drake said.”
The 32-year-old then threatened to spend $20,000 to sue her adversary while pointing out that he “loves to oppose everybody, especially women.”
The above comments about dogs relate to accusations about Budden made by his former girlfriend, who claimed that he committed sex acts with his pet.
