Joe Exotic, or Joseph Allen Maldonado to his friends, is back in the news! He was just deported to Mexico upon his release from prison. The former zookeeper catapulted to notoriety as the subject of the 2020 Netflix smash-hit documentary “Tiger King.” Though released on Friday, he was soon deported back to Mexico. This unforeseen twist in the saga has resulted in Exotic making some very public and very cringeworthy appeals to former President Donald Trump to issue his pardon.
As you might imagine, Exotic’s legal woes began in earnest in January of 2020. He was sentenced to 22 years for various charges, which entailed a conspiracy to murder animal rights activist Carole Baskin. His sentence was cut by a year in 2022 after he sought leniency while receiving treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. Recent reports indicate that his cancer entered remission in July 2022 but has recently returned.
In an unsurprising plot twist, Joe Exotic has married husband, Marquez, 33. The pair first connected when Exotic was incarcerated, as we covered last October. Upon his release, Exotic was due for an immediate hearing, set for the very day after his release. He was deported before he could go.
Exotic has also used social media to appeal directly to Trump, including this tearful plea for a pardon. When it came the time, he wanted one simple thing—to be permitted to travel with his pasaport-holding husband to Mexico. In each of his posts, Exotic admitted that the two had stark political differences, but focused instead on how Exotic had supported Trump long before Exotic was ever arrested.
“I know that you are not fond of my lifestyle, but I supported you just allow me go to Mexico with my husband.” – Joe Exotic
Exotic had previously floated the idea that if Trump were to give Exotic a pardon, Exotic would self-deport on his own accord with Marquez. In an interview in April 2020, Trump had said “I’ll take a look” when asked if he’d pardon Exotic.
In a statement referencing the events from “Tiger King,” Exotic highlighted the injustices he believes he faced during his trials.
“It’s really past time to have one of your people watch Tiger King Season 2, where they all admitted to perjury and a plot to kill me on world television and let me out,” – Joe Exotic
Exotic is still wading through the stormy waters of his life in Mexico. Fans and critics alike are anxiously awaiting what will come next for him.