Tiger King Where Are They Now? Tiger King: Where Are the Cast Now?
by Hemalatha R
Updated Mar 13, 2023
Tiger King
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness, the true crime documentary streaming television series, became a cultural phenomenon when it was released on Netflix in March 2020. The first season, which focuses on the life of former zookeeper and convicted felon Joe Exotic, received positive reviews from critics and was watched by 34.3 million people in its first ten days of release. Its success is partly attributed to its release amid the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were stuck at home.
The series explores the small but deeply interconnected society of big cat conservationists, including Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue, and collectors such as Exotic, who Baskin accuses of abusing and exploiting wild animals. The first season, subtitled "Murder, Mayhem, and Madness," delves into the world of big cat breeding and conservation and the eccentric personalities that inhabit it. Exotic's feud with Baskin is a significant focus of the season, culminating in his arrest and conviction for attempting to hire someone to kill her.
Despite its popularity, the first season of Tiger King was criticized by conservation and animal rights groups for its inaccuracies related to private breeding and wildlife conservation issues. The second and third seasons, subtitled "Tiger King 2" and "The Doc Antle Story," respectively, received mostly negative reviews from fans and critics. The former was also subject to a lawsuit by Carole and Howard Baskin over footage used in the series. Tiger King inspired several memes online and even spawned a follow-up aftershow hosted by Joel McHale. However, there is no indication that there will be another season. The series may have contributed to greater public awareness of the complex issues surrounding big cat breeding and conservation, but its accuracy and approach have been called into question by many in the field.
Tiger King Where Are They Now?
Joseph 'Joe Exotic' Maldonado-Passage
Joe Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2019 for attempting to hire a hitman to murder animal activist Carole Baskin and for killing tigers to make room for more big cats in his exotic animal park in Oklahoma. Since his imprisonment, Exotic has been removed from isolation and filed a federal lawsuit seeking $94 million in damages. In March 2021, Joe and his husband Dillon Passage announced they were divorcing. Joe ended up filing for divorce in March 2022 because of a relationship with fellow inmate John Graham. By June of that year, Exotic and Graham's engagement was no more, and he was in a relationship with a former boyfriend named Seth. In November 2021, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with "aggressive" prostate cancer. In August 2022, he expressed his hope that a new friendship with 90 Day Fiancé alum Jesse Meester would eventually lead to a pardon from President Joe Biden.
Carole Baskin
Carole Baskin runs the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in Florida and was the target of Joe Exotic's attempted murder plot. She continues to run the sanctuary with her husband and competed on Dancing with the Stars after the series made her a household name. Baskin came out as bisexual in 2020 and criticized Tiger King 2 as a "reality show dumpster fire." In November 2021, the Baskins filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging breach of contract for featuring them in Tiger King 2 and its promotional trailer, despite their refusal to participate. The streamer fired back at their litigation, saying that Carole and Howard have "no claim" to the case. She urged fans to watch her own docuseries, Carole Baskin's Cage Fight, which follows her investigation of the mistreatment of privately owned big cats, including some that belonged to Exotic.
Bhagavan "Doc" Antle
Bhagavan "Doc" Antle was the founder and director of The Institute for Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.). He quickly became an internet sensation for his multiple girlfriends who helped run Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. He returned for Tiger King 2 and released a docuseries of his own called Tiger Kingdom: More Than a King, to share his side of the story. In October 2020, he was indicted on wildlife trafficking charges in Virginia. In June 2022, he was charged with money laundering in connection with an alleged human smuggling operation by federal prosecutors.
Jeff Lowe
Jeff Lowe stepped in to save Joe Exotic's zoo before the subsequent murder-for-hire incident. He bought the Oklahoma zoo after Exotic filed for bankruptcy. When he later learned that Exotic was being investigated for the murder-for-hire plot, he became an informant and his work ultimately led to Exotic's arrest. In June 2020, Lowe was ordered by a judge to hand over ownership of the animal park to Carole Baskin. Two months later, he announced that the G.W. Exotic Animal Park had closed permanently, transferring operations and opening the Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
John Finlay
Joe Exotic's ex-husband, John Finlay, was disappointed that the Netflix series didn't showcase his new set of teeth, which he had fixed after the first season. He even created his own Facebook page to set the record straight. Finlay now works as a welder.
John Phillips
Season two of Tiger King introduces John Phillips, a Florida-based lawyer specializing in personal injury, wrongful death, and civil rights cases. He begins the series working with Don Lewis's family, but after they drop him, he is retained by Joe Exotic to seek a new trial. In July 2021, Joe Exotic's 22-year prison sentence was vacated by a federal appeals court, and while the convictions were upheld, he is set to be re-sentenced at a later date.
Tim Stark
Tim Stark, the former owner of Wildlife in Need, features prominently in the new season. He teams up with Jeff Lowe to take over the G.W. Zoo after Joe Exotic is sent to prison. However, after he leaves over 100 animals in his truck overnight, they all die, and Lowe kicks him off the land, ending their partnership. Wildlife in Need is eventually shut down by the US Department of Agriculture after it violates the Animal Welfare Act. In October 2020, Stark is arrested for hiding animals that were meant to be confiscated. As of April 2021, Stark is banned from owning any exotic or native animals.
Erik Cowie
Erik Cowie, a former zookeeper at G.W. Zoo, appears briefly in season two, telling the documentary about Exotic's treatment of the animals. Unfortunately, Cowie passed away in September 2021 due to acute and chronic alcohol abuse.
Dillon Passage
Joe Exotic and Dillon Passage's marriage falls apart by the end of the first season. In the second season, Passage tells the documentary that he's relieved to be separated from Joe. In July 2021, Passage shared a photo on Instagram with his new boyfriend.
Allen Glover
Allen Glover, the alleged hitman hired to kill Carole Baskin and Jeff Lowe's right-hand man, appears briefly in season one but takes on a more prominent role in season two. Glover agrees to help Exotic appeal his prison sentence, but in August 2021, he was arrested and charged for driving on a suspended license, under the influence, and with an open container.
Tiger King Summary
Tiger King, the true crime documentary streaming television series, explores the world of big cat conservationists and collectors in America and the private zoos and animal sanctuaries they have set up for the care and public display of these animals. The series consists of three seasons, each focusing on a different subject in this interconnected community. The primary subject of the first season is Joe Exotic, the eccentric owner of the G.W. Zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
The season follows Exotic's bitter years-long feud with Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, and culminates in his conviction under federal murder-for-hire statutes for paying a hitman to murder Baskin. Exotic's convictions also included violations of the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act, resulting in a 22-year federal prison sentence. The second season of Tiger King covers the immediate aftermath of Exotic's imprisonment and explores further theories surrounding the Disappearance of Don Lewis, Baskin's ex-husband. The season also delves into the downfall of big cat collectors Tim Stark and Jeff Lowe and pays tribute to Erik Cowie, an employee at the G.W. Zoo who died in September 2021.
The third season of Tiger King focuses on Mahamayavi Bhagavan's "Doc Antle," a rival of Exotic's and Baskin's. The season explores Antle's cult of employment and sheds light on the inner workings of his private zoo. Antle, who has been accused of animal abuse and trafficking, has denied all allegations against him. While the first season of Tiger King was a critical and commercial success, the second and third seasons received mostly negative reviews from fans and critics. Some have criticized the series for its inaccurate portrayal of the big cat conservation and breeding industry and its sensationalism. However, the series has brought greater public awareness to the complex issues surrounding the care and conservation of big cats in America.
Tiger King Where Are They Now - FAQs
Tiger King is a true crime documentary series that explores the interconnected world of big cat conservationists and collectors in America. The series focuses on the lives of individuals such as Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and Doc Antle, who own private zoos and animal sanctuaries for big cats.
Joe Exotic was convicted under federal murder-for-hire statutes for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Carole Baskin. He was also found guilty of violating the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act, resulting in a 22-year federal prison sentence.
The Tiger King series has been criticized by conservation and animal rights groups for its framing and inaccuracies related to private breeding and wildlife conservation issues. Some have also criticized the series for its sensationalism and portrayal of the big cat industry.
The second and third seasons of Tiger King received negative reviews from fans and critics due to their lack of focus and coherence. Some viewers felt that the series lacked the same level of intrigue and entertainment value as the first season.
As of now, there is no indication that there will be a fourth season of Tiger King. However, given the series' popularity, it is possible that a new season could be announced in the future.