Joe Budden has issued an apology after host Olivia Dope accused the media personality of sexual harassment during an episode of the See the Thing Is… podcast.
In a 26-minute Instagram video Monday, Pope explained why she left the podcast she hosted with Mandii B and former Love & Hip Hop star Bridget Kelly, under the Joe Budden Network, which launched last October.
"On January 18, 2021, Joe Budden sat in on a recording of the female-led podcast I was a part of and continuously made sexual, suggestive remarks to me that made me extremely uncomfortable as well as fearful of dampening the mood if I didn’t laugh along while he made those sexual remarks to me," Dope explained. "Those moments not only live on the internet forever, but it also forced me into the decision of quitting the podcast."
Dope claims some of Budden's comments were "edited out" from episode 16, titled, "The List Is Closed," before it premiered. "It was traumatizing and embarrassing," she stated, alleging Budden made comments about wanting to be intimate "since they met." She added that she hopes to encourage others to share their experience with "harassment in the workplace."
In a statement obtained by Rolling Stone Tuesday, Joe Budden said he acknowledged that his "words and power in that situation created an upsetting environment for Olivia."
"I apologize sincerely to Olivia, her former co-hosts, our staff, and the public. In an effort to not further any trauma, the episode will be removed from all platforms," Budden continued. "We support all women’s rights to feel comfortable and protected in the workplace. We fell short of that in this instance. We support Olivia in her quest to heal, applaud her for finding the strength to share her experience, and wish her the best in all her future endeavors."