Joe Budden Explains Rory and Mal’s Absence on The Joe Budden Podcast

On Wednesday’s (March 24) episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Joe Budden decided to address the elephant in the room – where’s Rory and Mal?

Starting at the 15-minute mark, Budden provided clarity about Rory and Mal‘s departure stating that the two have taken some time off.

Whether they will return is uncertain, but Budden clapped back at fans who assumed that Ice and Savon, who have been temporarily co-hosting, would be permanent replacements.

“It ain’t just a work thing,” said Budden at the 27-minute mark. “So that’s my reaction when I see fans try to split up something that was built so carefully over the years. … The best thing you can do—is what I wish was granted to me when I was going through—is give time, time. Give everyone time to chill. … But truth be told—I said this in many of Joe verses—none of us are slaves to the audience. … No one owes anybody anything.”

Joe Budden on Twitter: “I’m not holding anyone’s Podcast masters 😭😭😩😩 / Twitter”

I’m not holding anyone’s Podcast masters 😭😭😩😩

According to Budden, tension had been building up for over several weeks between the trio and even fans began to notice. However, the former rapper made sure to make it clear that there was no beef. “Nobody has communicated a beef,” Budden said. “What they have communicated to me is something is wrong. Whether that be in our friendship, how we’re speaking to each other, the respect level.”

Parks also chimed in on what happens when you mix friendship with business.

“I been doing business with Joe Budden for a very long time,” he said. “I don’t come to you with business shit, because we have to keep doing shit…Other people should probably have somebody else to talk to you, or one of your professionals.”

Though things are different now, Budden reiterated that Rory and Mal are welcome to return to the podcase when they’re ready.

“I’ll eliminate some of the suspense,” Budden says in the beginning of the episode. “This is Rory’s seat, and this is Mal’s seat. Whenever they feel like returning to their seats, then they’ll return to their seats. And then what will happen is the same thing when your star player comes back to the team.”

Stream episode 425 below.