After the release of Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, tons of viewers have become interested in former zookeeper and big cat owner Joe Exotic. Exotic — real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage — is currently serving 22 years in prison after being convicted of a murder-for-hire plot, falsifying wildlife records, and violating the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, not even Exotic can escape the coronavirus pandemic, and he is reportedly under quarantine while in prison.
Joe Exotic’s fourth husband, Dillon Passage, has been keeping close tabs on him while in prison. That is, until Exotic had to go into reported quarantine due to the novel coronavirus. Speaking with Andy Cohen on the SiriusXM show Radio Andy, Passage revealed what was going on regarding Exotic’s COVID-19 quarantine. Here’s what he had to say:
We speak like three to five times every day, but since he’s been moved to this new facility, they are putting him on a COVID-19 isolation because of the previous jail he was at, there were cases. I’ve yet to speak to him since he moved.
Joe Exotic is currently serving his sentence in Oklahoma’s Grady County Jail. He was found guilty last year of hiring a hitman to kill Big Cat Rescue owner Carole Baskin, whom Exotic alleges killed her late husband and subsequently fed him to tigers. Andy Cohen pressed on about the alleged coronavirus isolation, asking Dillon Passage whether Exotic was quarantined separately from everyone else. In his words:
From what I know, yes. From what he told me.
Prior to allegedly getting sick, Joe Exotic has been keeping busy while in prison. From behind bars, the former zookeeper has filed a $94 million lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service for allegedly putting him out of business. Per the lawsuit, Exotic is also accusing former business partner Jeff Lowe for allegedly lying and falsifying evidence.
While Joe Exotic’s ex-husband John Finlay hasn’t spoken to him since they split up, Dillon Passage remains stalwart and is intent on sticking by Exotic’s side while he serves time in prison. Here's what he told Andy Cohen:
I do love Joe. He’s been with me through my darkest times, and I’m not going to just dip out and abandon him when he needs me most.
Joe Exoctic definitely isn’t the first in the national spotlight to be quarantined during this pandemic. Andy Cohen himself was also in self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus. That put the future of his series, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on pause, though it sounds like he is doing better now. He's out of quarantine and adorably got to reunite with his son.
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is currently available to stream on Netflix. COVID-19 has had an immense impact on numerous TV productions, so be sure to check out our updated list to see which series are delayed or are getting shortened seasons.
