Joe Exotic became an overnight sensation when Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness debuted last month, and now it sounds like he’s ready to take on the fame and fortune.
Of course, the big cat lover, real name Joe Maldonado-Passage, is in prison right now, so his current freedom is a bit, um, limited. But to hear him tell it in a new interview directly with Netflix, it sure sounds like he’s ready to put the past behind him… if only the federal government would do the same, that is. Hmmm.
Related: Wait, So, Could Cardi B Actually Spring Joe Exotic From Federal Prison?!
As viewers of the hit streaming series will no doubt recall, the embattled zoo operator’s current prison term stems from his arrest and conviction in a murder-for-hire plot with animal activist arch rival Carole Baskin in the crosshairs.
But as Baskin is free to continue her rescue work with Big Cat Rescue down in Florida, Joe lost everything once convicted — and that’s not sitting well with him right now. In a new video clip the tiger tamer says from behind bars (below):
“I’m done with the Carole Baskin saga. It’s now time to turn the tables and Joe get out of jail a free man and exonerated from all these charges.”
Well then! If only it were that easy. The unlikely Netflix sensation is in the middle of serving out what’s scheduled to be more than two decades in federal prison for the hitman plot and other animal cruelty-related charges… not exactly a slap on the wrist! Of course, as we’ve been reporting, the Oklahoma resident is already suing the federal government from within those walls, so perhaps he feels like he’s got a leg up on freedom, or something.
Exoneration or not, pretty much everybody is quick to report how much Joe has been taken aback by the fame falling his way ever since the docuseries first streamed. In that same video interview, in fact, the zoo operator noted as much, saying:
“You know it would be nice if I could actually see me being famous out there, but I’ve seen these same four walls for a year and a half now.”
Yeah, no kidding!
Here’s the newly-released clip of Joe’s jailhouse interview, which took place almost two weeks ago, and in which Joe also talks about his new husband’s loyalty AND his zany showman’s personality:
Joe Exotic was interviewed from prison on March 22.
Here's what he told us pic.twitter.com/ueqTeWfKxh
— Netflix (@netflix) April 3, 2020
It’s not a long video, but enough to get you thinking about a Tiger King sequel, ya know? Or maybe just another run for governor of Oklahoma?? Oh, sorry, is that just us then?? Never mind…
What do you think of all this Tiger King madness the last few weeks, y’all?? What a crazy show… what a cast of characters!!!
Oh, and just for fun…
[Image via Joe Exotic/YouTube]
The post <i>Tiger King</i> Star Joe Exotic Speaks Out From Behind Bars: ‘It’s Now Time To Turn The Tables’ appeared first on Perez Hilton.