Joe Exotic says Netflix's Tiger King documentary ruined his life

Joe Exotic - the star of Netflix documentary Tiger King – says that the series ‘absolutely’ ruined his life.

Remember Tiger King? Let us refresh your memory:

Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently in prison after being sentenced to 22 years for his role in a murder-for-hire plot that involved his Tiger King co-star and personal nemesis Carole Baskin.

So, in many ways it wasn’t actually the TV show that ruined his life, it was his decision to hire a hitman to kill a woman who owns a big cat wildlife park.

Anyway, he reckons that the TV show played a big part in it.

The 60-year-old, who is also suffering with cancer at the moment, was the main talking point and star of the 2020 documentary, which had everyone in the world hooked after it dropped onto Netflix during the Covid-19 pandemic that kept us all locked down.

Netflix

Upon reflection, Exotic now concedes that his decision to take part in the show was not a good one, as it has led him to a lot of regret.

In an interview with TMZ, Exotic said: “My biggest regret? Owning a zoo. Other than owning a zoo, it’s meeting Jeff Lowe.

“Carole Baskin was not a threat to me because I fought her in court. Jeff Lowe is just a corrupt b***ard.”

When asked whether he regrets Tiger King, he continued: “First of all, I didn’t do Tiger King. Did Tiger King ruin my life? Absolutely.

“I was filming just a little tiger film in 2016 and 2017 and then Netflix and Eric Goode and all of them turned this into this conspiracy to kill Carole Baskin to make a show.”

Once again, that wasn’t what the courts found, which is why he is giving this interview from prison.

If Joe ever does manage to get out of prison, he plans to marry his fiancé, Seth Posey.

The pair met online, and he has already outlined his wish for his entire estate to pass to Posey in the event of his death.

Santa Rosa County Jail.

Last month, it emerged that Exotic is refusing further treatment on his prostate cancer, with doctors concerned that it could have spread to his bladder.

It was also reported that Exotic recently signed a ‘do not resuscitate’ order (DNR) in case he suffers a medical emergency.

Outside of that, he also told the outlet that he’s planning to run for President of the United States in 2024 as a Libertarian, and believes that he’s the right dude for the gig, even though he is in prison.

We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Tiger King is still available to watch on Netflix.