It’s been a rough month for podcast host Joe Budden who’s been called out for physical abuse by two former girlfriends within the span of two weeks. His tumultuous month began when Tahiry Jose, who began dating Budden in 2005, visited “Hollywood Unlocked” where she alleged the former rapper once injured her badly enough to cause a trip to the hospital.
Budden responded to Tahiry’s accusations on “The Joe Budden Podcast” where he described Jose as a “cancerous, toxic liar” and claimed they both exhibited toxic behavior.
Notably, the allegations emerged shortly after Budden announced his podcast will soon end its exclusive partnership with Spotify that was first announced in September 2018.
The timing has provided fuel for unsubstantiated conspiracy theories purporting that hits to his reputation were organized by Spotify or Charlamagne the God (real name Lenard McKelvey), who recently announced the launch of The Black Effect, an iHeartMedia podcast network.
Leaked Conversation with Budden and Santana
More recently, Budden was accused in a leaked phone conversation (above) of poor parenting and physical abuse by his former fiancé, Cyn Santana (real name Cynthia Pacheco). In a phone conversation that took place in spring 2019 following their break up and prior to their filming “Love & Hip Hop New York,” Budden pushed for a face-to-face meeting with Santana so they could discuss custody-related issues without involving lawyers.
In response, Santana told him, “Oh, you mean in person so you can chase me again and drag me? I’m good.” Responding with surprise, Budden said, “I dragged you? I laid a hand on you and dragged you where? Where did I drag you, Cyn?” Cyn responded by alleging he was too intoxicated to remember.
The 27-year-old Santana also noted she and their son, Lexington, were kicked out of Budden’s home. Santana said, “Do you know that you kicked me and your son out of your house and you haven’t sent me a dollar? You haven’t sent me a dollar, Joey. Nothing. Nothing, You haven’t sent me sh-t for me to buy Lex. Nothing, nothing, nothing.”
Alleged Leaked Family Court Documents
In addition to the leaked audio, an alleged court document (above) was published on Instagram account that included arguments by Santana as to why Budden shouldn’t be allowed unsupervised custody of their child, who will turn three in December.
In the document she alleges Budden masturbated his dogs, kissed their child on the lips with an open mouth, was verbally abuse to the child’s babysitter and abused substances rendering him “incapable of properly caring for Lexington absent supervision.”
Santana Responds: “Mind Y’all Business”
Today, Santana went on Instagram (above) where she responded angrily to the leaked audio and documents. Rather than address the allegations, Santana emphasized that her first priority was to protect her son. In the caption, she wrote, “I don’t play about my family and I most definitely don’t play about my son. Mind y’all business.” She also claimed the tape was leaked by someone she once trusted who betrayed her.
Budden Points Finger At Former Friend Raqi Thunda
Joe Budden says Raqi Thunda from Love & Hip Hop leaked the Cyn Santana phone call, and also the paperwork on his dog pic.twitter.com/y00lsMhLFY
— Complex Ambition (@CmplxAmbition) September 9, 2020
Budden responded to the leaked accusations on Instagram Live today (above) where he accused radio personality Raqi Thunder (real name Raquel Ameena), who he described as Santana’s former manager, of leaking the audio. He went on to allege, “I think she’s sick, I think she’s bipoloar, I think she has dementia…”
Budden didn’t directly respond to accusations he masturbated his dogs nor did he speak to allegations made by Santana in the leaked call and in court documents. However, he did note the leaked documents were never officially filed within the court system. Notable, video has emerged of Budden’s speaking on his podcast about masturbating his dogs.
Raqi Thunda Claps Back at Budden and Santana
Raqi fired back on Instagram (above) where she published mostly amiable screen shots of DM exchanges with Budden. She also pointed out that Budden asked her to manage Santana in part to help him keep tabs on her.
In a lengthy post, Raqi wrote in the caption in part, “YOU asked me to manage Cyn after your breakup because you thought I would help you keep tabs on her movement like where she was and who she was keeping company with.”
Raqi also alleged she played the role of a “Rescue Team” for Santana as well as other women who had fallen out with Budden. In the caption Raqi wrote, “Because I’ve played that role time and time again in your many failed tumultuous relationships! I was the designated person for a few of your ex’s to help smooth things out as your friend and out of the kindness of my heart I extended my home, clothes, shoes, bags and finances to rehabbing and being supportive of them…”
In an 2013 interview on VladTV, Thunder discussed being dragged out of a party by her neck by Budden following a scrum with his then girlfriend Jose during a season three “Love & Hip Hop: New York” episode.
Budden and Raqi first became friendly when Raqi interviewed him while working for Def Jam not long after he released his “Pump It Up” single in 2003.
Jose Opens Up about Alleged Abuse by Budden
Budden’s current trevails began on August 31 when his ex Jose went on “Hollywood Unlocked” where she opened up about her problematic relationship with Budden.
When asked if she was ever physically abused by Budden, Jose hesitated at first but said it was painful to hear Budden use his platform to lie about their relationship after it was over. “And then watch your ex say something like, ‘Tahiri will fight a man.’ I didn’t fight him, I was scared to death,” she said. “That relationship left me with a fractured rib and a broken nose because somebody was sending him a message. And I used to always say, ‘Stop beefing out there, I’m still working.’ And he hit me on that nose and then pushed me down a flight of stairs.
“I remember having a plan to leave because the reason he was so upset was because I was already leaving, looking through my phone and sh*t. But I had already told him [to] give me two weeks to pack up my things. He agreed to it and then started looking through my phone. Next thing you know, I got woken up by him dragging me by my ankle.”
Jose said the abuse at first was verbal and emotional and became physical. One attack by Budden was severe enough to require a trip to the hospital where she lied about how she sustained her injuries. She explained, “I lied to the doctors and said I was cleaning a cabinet in the kitchen and it fell.” Jose pointed to Budden’s song “Downful,” which includes lyrics referencing hitting her with the line, “I hit you like a man, you wore it in your ribs.”
Budden has also been accused of physical abuse by former girlfriend Esther Baxter, who told Bossip in 2011 (below) that the attacked was severe enough to cause her to miscarry.
