Joe Budden Ends Podcast After Firing Co-Hosts Rory and Mal Mid-Show

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After six years of recording, the “Joe Budden Podcast” has come to a dramatic end.

Host Budden fired his co-hosts, Rory Farrell and Jamil “Mal” Clay, while recording a podcast episode that was posted and then quickly deleted on May 12. Budden later reposted the episode on Patreon, asking fans to subscribe to see the video footage of the podcast recording.

Budden, a retired rapper and former “Love and Hip Hop” star, is alone in the studio for the duration of the video. That’s because co-hosts Farrell and Clay (the podcast used to be called “The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory and Mal”) have been mostly absent from recording since March when they took a hiatus to try and sort out their differences with Budden.

It seemed like the three were on the road to good terms in late April, when they recorded their first episode after the break. But now the trio seems to be broken up for good. Budden fired Farrell during an expletive-laden rant he recorded solo, claiming that Farrell breached his contract. It’s not clear exactly how the contract was breached, but fans are assuming the breakup is because Budden’s co-hosts asked for more money.

“Rory feels like he has so many options here, somehow he still feels like he’s running the show [and] he still feels like he has choices and options, he feels like he’s entitled to more,” Budden said. “Rory, you are in breach of your contract. And from this point forward, you are fired and you are not welcome back,” he added.

Budden also called Farrell a “liability” and said he encouraged Farrell and Clay to take their talents elsewhere and start their own show.

Reps for Farrell and Clay did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Budden, who started the show in 2016, also said he’d “NEVER funding someone’s sabotage of me, that will NEVER happen… i get far away from the threat…. You can think piece until your face turns blue.”

Then, apparently addressing both Farrell and Clay, Budden said, “Y’all take that f—ing dark energy, that arrogance and that entitlement somewhere else.”

When a fan asked him if the show was done now that it’s lost two-thirds of the hosts, Budden replied saying it’s “100,000% over.”

“Helluva run!! God bless,” Budden said on Twitter Wednesday.

Helluva run!! God bless.

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

Since firing Farrell and ending things publicly, Budden has had plenty to say and has been replying to fans and critics alike on Twitter all day. One fan asked him if “maybe this whole situation needs more thought than what you’ve given it,” and Budden replied:

No, it’s time for it to STOP being given thought…. There are millions of podcasts, ppl will survive. https://t.co/t5IrwfS8o8

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

“The Joe Budden Podcast” used to be hosted exclusively on Spotify thanks to a multi-figure deal but Budden pulled it from the platform last August, claiming Spotify was unfairly “pillaging” his audience.

Check out a few reactions to the podcast’s end — and Budden’s replies to some fans — below.

Sorry not sorry 🤷🏽‍♂️

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 11, 2021

I can afford to. https://t.co/nDgtaM2B7l

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

It’s on Patreon and that’s where it will stay… I’m off to breakfast. https://t.co/CQfXy5eq4c

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

😭 https://t.co/HpssGAm51m

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

I’m phony. https://t.co/LgN7HnXYpX

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

I was wack before this… you be cool. https://t.co/pmc2Db1Ubo

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

Take care. https://t.co/xAAaNgXtaI

— Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) May 12, 2021

Joe Budden. The architecture of his own downfall. Every single time.

— Lillian (@LillzTIL) May 12, 2021

Joe Budden does not play well with others. Complex, Love & Hip-Hop, Spotify, Eminem/Slaughterhouse, Rory & Mal, Marissa.

And that’s just in business. pic.twitter.com/VeYpid9IQg

— anna. (@MakeItShady) May 12, 2021

Joe budden podcast.
How it started. vs. How it's going. pic.twitter.com/60SrxSPsQ0

— Roshan 🌐 (@Roshan_keni) May 12, 2021

I can’t even be mad at @JoeBudden … If you gonna be a public target of ridicule no matter what decision you make , then make the decision that lends itself to what’s best for you …

— PAW PAW (@grandfauva) May 12, 2021

Me waking up and seeing the Joe Budden Podcast destroyed pic.twitter.com/PMBCHbVfud

— ® (@iNeedAddisonRae) May 12, 2021

Rory and Mal: we want more money.

Joe Budden:
pic.twitter.com/xBfBMpmIxJ

— The Big Chillin' (@Kofie) May 12, 2021

How Rory and Mal looking at Joe Budden and Akademiks pic.twitter.com/uZK4Otaou2

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) May 12, 2021

The Joe Budden Podcast. pic.twitter.com/cRfwhe8sEZ

— ItsTheReal (@itsthereal) May 12, 2021

Joe Budden treated them dudes the way labels treat rappers

— The Anonymous Nobody (@el_budget) May 12, 2021

Read original story Joe Budden Ends Podcast After Firing Co-Hosts Rory and Mal Mid-Show At TheWrap