He continued: “We support all women’s rights to feel comfortable and protected in the workplace. Upon reflection, both the network and I take accountability for this.” “I recognise my words and power in that situation created an upsetting environment for Olivia. During the conversation on the See, The Thing Is podcast I didn’t handle the topics with the sensitivity they deserved. Joe Budden (Picture: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for REVOLT)īudden has since apologised “sincerely” to Dope, “her former co-hosts, our staff and the public” in a statement (via Rolling Stone), writing: “As a podcaster, it is my job to address topics and create dialogue around them. But I did speak to both of them a week after.” No-one responded in that moment and I was removed from the group chat. “I then informed my castmates via text that I am not built for the Joe Budden network. Towards the end of the episode, Budden asked Dope for an on-air hug which was captured on camera: “It’s unbeknownst to me until I actually watch back the episode that he was moving his hips while he was hugging me.”ĭope recalled that once she decided to leave the show, her lawyer contacted Budden’s lawyer “and informed that these are the reasons my client is leaving this network”. Once again, I’m trying to laugh all of this off.” And he thought we were going to be a network power couple. “Joe makes a comment that I am throwing my singleness in his face. I am mortified by this revelation, not only because it was done in front of the entire production staff but it was done while we were recording audio as well as visual.”ĭope also cites another edit which was made because, she alleges, “Joe makes another suggestion to having sex with me”. The DJ then provided examples from the January 18 episode of See, The Thing Is to further outline her allegations against Budden, including one moment which Dope claims was edited for the final cut where “Joe says him and I should speak more because he ‘been wanted to fuck me since we’ve met'”.Ī post shared by in the studio, including production staff, laugh uncomfortably while one of my co-hosts confirmed that to be true. Those moments not only live on the internet forever, it also forced me into the decision of quitting the podcast.” “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. “I sat with this for three months, anxiously debating with myself if I feel comfortable enough to express my reasoning for my departure,” she explained. “I am here today, still uncomfortable, but I find the bravery to speak out on a very embarrassing situation. In a 26-minute video post on Instagram yesterday (May 17), Dope explained that Budden’s alleged behaviour towards her during a recording of one episode of See, The Thing Is in January was the “final straw” that ultimately led to her departure from the show. Joe Budden has apologised to the DJ and podcast host Olivia Dope after she accused him of sexual harassment.ĭope was a former co-host on the See, The Thing Is podcast, which launched last year and is produced by the independent Joe Budden Network.

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