Joe Exotic has been in prison for two-and-a-half years now, having being convicted for multiple violations of wildlife laws and murder for hire – and he's set to serve a lot more time if he doesn't get parole. Exotic (real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage) has made many attempts to get parole, and after former President Donald Trump let him down, he's now agreed to something he may have never imagined: work alongside his nemesis Carole Baskin.
Howard Baskin, the living husband of Carole, recently suggested the couple would support a reduction of Joe Exotic's sentence if he were to help support a new piece of legislation called the Big Cat Safety Act hoping to make a splash in Washington. Joe Exotic recently confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that he'd heard the offer, and he's on board. With that said, he had a few more things to say, both about Baskin and the proposed Big Cat Safety Act itself. Said Exotic,
It is time for Carole and Howard to put up or shut the hell up because I'm accepting their offer. And I'm gonna take it one step further than that, OK? It is time to get on the phone to President Biden or whoever they need to that they've got in their little financial pocket and say, 'Hey, Joe is willing to support a big cat bill to help protect cats in America from being exploited. But we need to keep our end of the deal and get Joe a pardon because this wasn't really about murder for hire or shooting five tigers -- this was about exploiting Joe to support Carole's agenda.' So, there's the offer on the table, all right? The way it's written is not gonna help anybody except PETA and Carole Baskin. So, I'll testify in front of the Senate, I'll testify in front of the House, they want to end big cats in America and they want to end the exploitation of them, I'm the man to do it. But it's time to get an attorney general down here and listen to the evidence that I have to prove I'm innocent and get me the hell out of here. And they've got my support. Other than that, they need to stay the hell out of the news with all their crap just to get their name in the paper because I just called their bluff.
It's a bold move for Joe Exotic to up the ante while still being behind bars, but the type of spirit that shows he's willing to throw his whole self behind something he's passionate about. If he could channel the fight to prove his innocence into a Big Cat bill that could prevent the exploitation of wildlife in America any further, this legislation could be passed.
All other comments aside, Joe Exotic did say he'd help, which is a big step possibly towards his release. That being said, a verbal commitment may not be enough to gain his freedom just yet, as Carole Baskin responded with the following after she was asked for comment on his offer:
I wouldn't seek a reduced sentence for Joe based upon him just saying he'd help end cub handling. I think he'd say anything, but not actually do it. He'd have to actually work with authorities to bring all of his buddies to justice and work with legislators to end cub handling. Then, I'd want him to be rewarded for having done the right thing.
Neither Joe Exotic nor Carole Baskin could make a statement without making a veiled criticism of the other, so this partnership may be easier said than done. With that said, it would be hilarious that after all his attempts the one who could finally get the star of Netflix's Tiger King out of prison is the woman he absolutely can't stand. It's a story that would almost justify a second season, just to see these two bury the hatchet.
Tiger King is currently available to binge on Netflix. As Joe Exotic fights for his freedom on the inside, his pop culture cred remains high on the outside. In fact, an actor was recently cast to play him opposite Kate McKinnon's Carole Baskin in an upcoming series.
