Struggling with cancer while locked up in prison hasJoe Exoticreflecting on his life. Back in 2020, the former big cat owner was one of the subjects of the immensely-popular Netflix docuseriesTiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. The series chronicles the feud between Exotic and competing big cat conservationist Carole Baskin, which includes the eventual arrest of the former on attempted murder-for-hire and animal cruelty charges. Exotic was sentenced to serve more than 20 years in prison, and despite repeated attempts to get a presidential pardon or a reduced sentence, there’s been no indication of him getting released anytime soon.
It certainly has seemed like there’s been no love lost between Exotic and Baskin. Even in prison, Exotic had continued to promote the theory that Baskin is somehow behind the disappearance of her ex-husband. However, it seems like the time has come for forgiveness. Speaking withTMZfrom behind bars, Exotic says he’s forgiven Baskin along with the other enemies he’s made through his dealings with big cats. Here’s what he said when asked if he could forgive Baskin:
“You know, I’ve already forgave her, and I forgave Jeff and James and Lauren and everybody that’s involved in this case. Am I gonna forget? Never. Because I’ve been through hell in the last five years, but forgive? I really have no hard feelings. I’ve never had hard feelings against Carole Baskin. People have to understand that in the animal rights world, bashing each other is how people make money. Carole made money telling people that I abused my animals, and you know, I got attention saying she killed her husband.”
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Joe Exotic Names His Biggest Regrets
Exotic goes on to state that he considers owning a zoo to be his biggest regret in life, but beyond that, he also wishes he hadn’t met Jeff Lowe. He clarifies that Baskin was not a threat to him, as he’d fought her in court, but that Lowe was just “a corrupt bastard.” As far as his involvement in theTiger Kingdocuseries at Netflix, Exotic also explains how he believes that the program ruined his life. He says how the footage he appears in was for something unrelated and alleges that the docuseries created the false narrative that he conspired to have Baskin killed.
“Did Tiger King ruin my life? Absolutely. I was filming just a little tiger show, in 2016 and 17, and then Netflix, and Eric Goode, and all of them turned this into this conspiracy to kill Carole Baskin, to make a show. Antyhing you saw me in was real filming that I filmed at the zoo. Everything they filmed after 2018 when I got arrested was all pre set up, and we have evidence that they were all paid to say what they say.”
The reality TV sensation described in the interview how he hasn’t had any issues with his fellow inmates for the past five years. Even with that good behavior, there are still no guarantees Exotic will see the outside of those prison walls again, but if he does, he has a plan. He says what he would do if he ever does get out would be to go to Arkansas to get married to his new lover, Seth Posey. He also says he’d be going on a concert tour. Meanwhile, regardless of whether or not he gets out, Exotic says he’s running for president in 2024.
“I intend on making the politicians and American people listen to what’s going on in this country. People may think that this is a joke, from me being sick and running for office in here, but it’s not.”
