What happened Tiger King?

The Tiger King is a nickname given to a controversial figure in the world of private zoos, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, more commonly known as Joe Exotic. Exotic rose to fame through his self-made show on YouTube and eventually on the streaming service Netflix.

In 2018, Exotic was convicted of 17 counts of animal abuse and 2 counts of murder-for-hire in a plot to kill his rival, Carole Baskin, the owner of Big Cat Rescue. Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his crimes.

The story of the Tiger King has since gained a cult following, with many viewers fascinated by the eccentric characters, the exotic animals, and the ongoing rivalry between Exotic and Baskin. Joe Exotic's legal team has since filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government in an effort to overturn his conviction.