Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.Photo: Netflix
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Joseph ‘Joe Exotic’ Maldonado-Passage
Joseph Maldonado-Passage.Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock
In 2019, Maldonado-Passage was found guilty of paying a hitman $3,000 to kill his rival,Carole Baskin, an animal activist and big-cat lover who runs a sanctuary called the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla. The hit did not go through, and he is currentlyserving 21 yearsfor the attempted murder plot.
Exotic was also found guilty of killing tigers to make room for more big cats at his exotic animal park in Oklahoma.
Soon afterTiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madnesspremiered on Netflix in March 2020 and drew inover 34 millionunique U.S. viewers within the first 10 days of its release, the former zookeeper and country music singer filed a federal lawsuit against various government agencies, as well as his former business partner, seeking $94 million in damages.
In early November 2021, the big cat lover revealed that he hadbeen diagnosedwith “aggressive” prostate cancer.
“Right now I don’t want anyone’s pity and I’m sure Carole will have her own party over this,” he saidin a statementregarding the news.
In August 2022, Exoticsaid that he hopedthat a new friendship90 Day FiancéalumJesse Meesterwould eventually lead to a pardon from President Joe Biden.
02of 09Carole BaskinCarole Baskin.Carole Baskin/FacebookThe originalTiger Kingfocused on the long-standing, increasingly bitter rivalry between Baskin — who runs the exotic sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue, in Citrus Park, Fla. — and Exotic, the now-imprisoned zookeeper.Baskin’s then-husband, self-made millionaire Don Lewis, vanished without a trace in August 1997, soon after the couple decided to divorce. At the time, relatives of Lewis questioned whether Baskin may have been involved and whether she may have fed his remains to her tigers.Lewis' disappearance remains unsolved.Baskin continues to run Big Cat Rescue with her husband, Howard Baskin, and competed on season 29 ofDancing with the Starsafter Netflix fame made her a household name. The animal advocatecame outas bisexual in 2020, and in September 2021 slammedTiger King 2as a"reality show dumpster fire.“The second seasonexplores theories on Don Lewis' fate, with mentions of “shady characters down in Costa Rica.“In November 2021, the Baskins filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging breach of contract for featuring them inTiger King 2and its promotional trailer, despite their refusal to participate. The streamerfired backat their litigation, saying that Carole and Howard have “no claim” to the case.Instead of tuning in toTiger King 2, Baskin urged fans to watch her own docuseries,Carole Baskin’s Cage Fight,which follows the Baskins' investigation of the mistreatment of privately owned big cats, including some that belonged to Exotic.“I’m so excited aboutCarol Baskin’s Cage Fightbecause it actually covers the work that we do every day and the work that we have been doing for the past 20 years,” Baskintold PEOPLEin November 2021. “I think people who watch it are going to be enthralled.”
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Carole Baskin
Carole Baskin.Carole Baskin/Facebook
The originalTiger Kingfocused on the long-standing, increasingly bitter rivalry between Baskin — who runs the exotic sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue, in Citrus Park, Fla. — and Exotic, the now-imprisoned zookeeper.
Baskin’s then-husband, self-made millionaire Don Lewis, vanished without a trace in August 1997, soon after the couple decided to divorce. At the time, relatives of Lewis questioned whether Baskin may have been involved and whether she may have fed his remains to her tigers.
Lewis' disappearance remains unsolved.
Baskin continues to run Big Cat Rescue with her husband, Howard Baskin, and competed on season 29 ofDancing with the Starsafter Netflix fame made her a household name. The animal advocatecame outas bisexual in 2020, and in September 2021 slammedTiger King 2as a"reality show dumpster fire.”
The second seasonexplores theories on Don Lewis' fate, with mentions of “shady characters down in Costa Rica.”
In November 2021, the Baskins filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging breach of contract for featuring them inTiger King 2and its promotional trailer, despite their refusal to participate. The streamerfired backat their litigation, saying that Carole and Howard have “no claim” to the case.
Instead of tuning in toTiger King 2, Baskin urged fans to watch her own docuseries,Carole Baskin’s Cage Fight,which follows the Baskins' investigation of the mistreatment of privately owned big cats, including some that belonged to Exotic.
“I’m so excited aboutCarol Baskin’s Cage Fightbecause it actually covers the work that we do every day and the work that we have been doing for the past 20 years,” Baskintold PEOPLEin November 2021. “I think people who watch it are going to be enthralled.”
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Bhagavan “Doc” Antle
Bhagavan “Doc” Antle.
Aside from his work with animals, Antle quickly became an Internet sensation for his multiple girlfriends who help run Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina.
The founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) returned forTiger King 2.
In October 2020, Antlereleased a docuseriesof his own calledTiger Kingdom: More Than a King, to share his side of the story — the same month he was indicted onwildlife trafficking chargesin Virginia.
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Jeff Lowe
Netflix
Lowe stepped in to save the G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Okla., a.k.a. Joe’s zoo, before the subsequent murder-for-hire incident. Upon hearing of Exotic’s financial troubles, Lowe decided to invest in the zoo and keep some of his own animals there. After Exotic filed for bankruptcy, Lowe bought the Oklahoma zoo. When he later learned that Exotic was being investigated for the murder-for-hire plot, he became an informant and his work ultimately led to Exotic’s arrest.
The zookeeper had said he imagined the park would “be a private film set forTiger King-related television content for cable and streaming services.”
However, in May 2021, federal authorities seized68 big catsfrom the property after an investigation found instances of animal mistreatment, violating the Endangered Species Act.
Two weeks later, Lowe and his wife Lauren werearrested in Oklahoma Cityfor driving under the influence. Four bench warrants were issued for Lowe afterhe failed to appear for a hearingat Las Vegas Municipal Court.
The couple, who share one young child, also appeared inTiger King 2.
05of 09Eric CowieNetflixCowie, a zookeeper who worked at G.W. Exotic Animal Park and appeared in the original seven-episode series, died in September 2021.Cowie died on Sept. 3 from acute and chronic alcohol use in Brooklyn, New York, Julie Bolcer, a spokesperson for the N.Y.C. Office of Chief Medical Examinertold PEOPLE.His manner of death has been determined as natural, Bolcer said.Cowie was among those who testified against Exotic in themurder-for-hire plotto kill Carole Baskin.
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Eric Cowie
Cowie, a zookeeper who worked at G.W. Exotic Animal Park and appeared in the original seven-episode series, died in September 2021.
Cowie died on Sept. 3 from acute and chronic alcohol use in Brooklyn, New York, Julie Bolcer, a spokesperson for the N.Y.C. Office of Chief Medical Examinertold PEOPLE.
His manner of death has been determined as natural, Bolcer said.
Cowie was among those who testified against Exotic in themurder-for-hire plotto kill Carole Baskin.
06of 09Joshua DialNetflixDial served as Exotic’s campaign manager when the Oklahoma zookeeper ran for president in 2016 and governor in 2017. Dial, a former Walmart employee, also witnessed the death of Exotic’s 23-year-old husband, Travis Maldonado.“I have tried to move on, and I have been successful so far. I was given a new life and a second chance when I met my fiancé; I have no desire to bring any of that pain into my life,” Dialtold Oxygen.comin 2020.Dial appeared alongsideTiger Kingalumni Kelci “Saff” Saffery and John Reinke in a live touring show calledUncaged: The Untold Stories from the Cast of Tiger King,in which they reflect on the whirlwind experience of working for Exotic.
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Joshua Dial
Dial served as Exotic’s campaign manager when the Oklahoma zookeeper ran for president in 2016 and governor in 2017. Dial, a former Walmart employee, also witnessed the death of Exotic’s 23-year-old husband, Travis Maldonado.
“I have tried to move on, and I have been successful so far. I was given a new life and a second chance when I met my fiancé; I have no desire to bring any of that pain into my life,” Dialtold Oxygen.comin 2020.
Dial appeared alongsideTiger Kingalumni Kelci “Saff” Saffery and John Reinke in a live touring show calledUncaged: The Untold Stories from the Cast of Tiger King,in which they reflect on the whirlwind experience of working for Exotic.
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John Finlay
John Finlay.Netflix
Though he’s stepped out of the spotlight since, viewers met Finlay, Exotic’s now ex-husband, in the originalTiger King.
Finlay, who was candid about his use of methamphetamine during his relationship with Exotic, was filmed in the series with multiple missing teeth.
Finlay joined the G.W. Exotic Animal Park staff in 2003 at 19 years old. According to a profile inTexas Monthly, within a month, Finlay moved in with Exotic and the two began a relationship. In December 2013, the pair entered a throuple with then 19-year-old Travis Maldonado, who came to the animal park from California.
In response to the docuseries, Finlay launched a Facebook page calledThe Truth About John Finlay, in which he revealed he is now happily married to a woman.
“She is my wife, more then [sic] I could have ever hoped to find, my soul mate and true love,” Finley said of his spouse.
08of 09Kelci “Saff” SafferyNetflixSaff was on staff at the G.W. Exotic Animal Park and lost part of his arm when he stuck his hand in a tiger cage to close the door.Though he was able to return to work at the park after recovering from surgery, heopened upabout the traumatic experience to raise awareness about the impact of personal injury at work in a June 2020 commercial for a Georgia-based law firm.“I would encourage and I would hope that people aren’t sitting around wondering, ‘What should my next move be?’ It should always be to consider the next move that is best for yourself,” the Army vet said in the spot. “Your injuries are permanent, they are life-long, and your job is not.“Like Dial, Saff has shared his side of the story in the live showUncaged: The Untold Stories from the Cast of Tiger King.
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Kelci “Saff” Saffery
Saff was on staff at the G.W. Exotic Animal Park and lost part of his arm when he stuck his hand in a tiger cage to close the door.
Though he was able to return to work at the park after recovering from surgery, heopened upabout the traumatic experience to raise awareness about the impact of personal injury at work in a June 2020 commercial for a Georgia-based law firm.
“I would encourage and I would hope that people aren’t sitting around wondering, ‘What should my next move be?’ It should always be to consider the next move that is best for yourself,” the Army vet said in the spot. “Your injuries are permanent, they are life-long, and your job is not.”
Like Dial, Saff has shared his side of the story in the live showUncaged: The Untold Stories from the Cast of Tiger King.
09of 09Rick KirkhamNetflixKirkham had been producing a reality series calledJoe Exotic, Tiger King,that eventually provided footage for the Netflix hit.Before his work with Exotic, Kirkham received his degree inbroadcast journalismfrom the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981, according to his LinkedIn account. He later became a crime reporter for NBC and ABC News.Today, he works as a freelance filmmaker in Norway where he lives with his wife, according to hisFacebookpage.
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Rick Kirkham
Kirkham had been producing a reality series calledJoe Exotic, Tiger King,that eventually provided footage for the Netflix hit.
Before his work with Exotic, Kirkham received his degree inbroadcast journalismfrom the University of Central Oklahoma in 1981, according to his LinkedIn account. He later became a crime reporter for NBC and ABC News.
Today, he works as a freelance filmmaker in Norway where he lives with his wife, according to hisFacebookpage.
source: people.com
