The simmering tension between R&B singer Ari Lennox and media personality Joe Budden boiled into a fiery social media spat in early 2024. The cause? Budden made a seemingly harmless comment on his podcast, “The Joe Budden Podcast,” while discussing J. Cole’s recent apology to Kendrick Lamar.
During the episode, Budden critiqued J. Cole’s sincerity in the apology, claiming it lacked conviction. He then used Ari Lennox’s name in an unrelated discussion about the nature of rap beef. Budden categorized Lennox and rapper Scottie as artists who cultivate a more “earthy college campus” vibe, contrasting it with J. Cole’s focus on lyrical prowess.
Lennox, clearly not amused by being brought into the conversation, took to Instagram to unleash her frustration. She bombarded her followers with a clip of rapper Consequence punching Budden during a reunion taping of “Love and Hip Hop: New York” – a clear message that she wouldn’t tolerate disrespect. The accompanying caption was a rebuke of Budden, calling him out for alleged animal abuse, misogyny, and online harassment.
This wasn’t the first time these two had crossed paths. Earlier that year, Budden criticized Lennox for sharing her struggles as the opening act for Rod Wave’s tour. Lennox, frustrated by the audience’s negative reception, had vented on social media. Budden, on his podcast, advised her to handle such issues internally with her team instead of airing dirty laundry online.
Lennox’s response to Budden’s latest comments was swift and brutal. She accused him of obsession, dredged up Drake’s past diss of Budden, and even threatened legal action. The insult-laden rant painted Budden as a bitter failure with questionable hygiene.
Budden eventually attempted a form of apology on a subsequent podcast episode. However, it fell flat for many. He acknowledged the importance of supporting women in the industry but then proceeded to accuse Lennox of trying to “demean and defame” him and called her a derogatory term. It was a confusing and contradictory attempt at reconciliation.
The back-and-forth between Lennox and Budden highlighted the often-toxic nature of online discourse. While Budden’s initial comments about Lennox were unnecessary and disrespectful, her response, while understandable, escalated the situation further. The entire episode left a sour taste in the mouths of many observers.
The feud eventually died down, but it left lingering questions. Will Budden learn to be more mindful of his commentary, especially regarding women in the music industry? Will Lennox find more constructive ways to address criticism? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the internet remembers, and this social media brawl will likely serve as a cautionary tale for future online feuds.