It seems like everyone has something to say about Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, including the main players in the Netflix docuseries. Tiger King looks at the tale of Joe Exotic (real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage), an eccentric, well-armed, gay man who ran a private, for-profit zoo in Oklahoma. Then he got himself in some serious trouble.
Tiger King details Joe Exotic's murderous rivalry, personal relationships, and the ugly business of the private ownership and breeding of big cats and other exotic animals. His story ends in prison, where he's serving twenty-two years for his involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme, for falsifying wildlife records, and for violations against the Endangered Species Act.
Joe Exotic was not the only memorable character in Tiger King's cast. Also featured were his husbands, his staff, his peers, and his biggest rival. Not surprisingly, many of the main players are now publicly reacting to the series. Here's what they've said.
How Joe Exotic Reacted To Tiger King
Joe Exotic is in prison, but Tiger King co-director Eric Goode has reportedly had contact with him since the series was released. Per Lad Bible, Goode said, "He's absolutely thrilled." He points out that fame was always Joe Exotic's goal.
How Carole Baskin Reacted To Tiger King
Carole Baskin was the target of the murder-for-hire contract that brought Joe Exotic down. She founded Big Cat Rescue in Florida and describes Tiger King as "disappointing." She accuses its makers of lying about their intentions in a post on Big Cat Rescue's website, writing that the series "had the sole goal of being salacious and sensational as possible to draw viewers." The post also defended against allegations regarding her involvement in the disappearance of Don Lewis, her second husband.
How Doc Antle Reacted To Tiger King
Doc Antle owns Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. Tiger King alludes to polygamy in his private life and cult-like business practices. He has decried Tiger King's authenticity, according to NBC News, saying, "This is not a documentary." Antle went on to call it a "salacious" TV show produced to create drama and referred to the Joe Exotic/Carole Baskin story a "train wreck." He claims to have told Tiger King's makers, "Leave me out of it."
How Jeff Lowe Reacted To Tiger King
The current owner of the zoo that once belonged to Joe Exotic, Jeff Lowe is depicted in Tiger King as having tricked Joe Exotic out of ownership of the park. He's another one displeased with the series, saying his portrayal was "unfair" and noting that it only touched on "10% of the story," per People.
How Saff Reacted To Tiger King
Kelci "Saff" Saffery worked for Joe Exotic's zoo and lost part of an arm in a tiger attack. In regards to Tiger King, Saff said he didn't think it reflected how much the staff became attached to the animals, per Out. For as over-the-top as Joe Exotic came off, he also said that Tiger King showed a "very generalized Joe."
How Rick Kirkman Reacted To Tiger King
Rick Kirkman was hired by Joe Exotic to make videos for his YouTube Channel, but who also aimed to create a reality series about the zoo. About Tiger King, he told TMZ Live, "This documentary is so accurate, it's frightening." He went on to say that he thinks that it "didn't go far enough."
How John Finlay Reacted To Tiger King
Joe Exotic's ex-husband, John Finlay revealed in Tiger King that he was actually straight. He is missing many teeth and often shirtless in Tiger King, and is not happy with how he was depicted. He told Entertainment Tonight, "They made me look like a drugged-out hillbilly." He also complained that it never showed "the real, new and improved me."
How Dillon Passage Reacted to Tiger King
Dillon Passage is Joe Exotic's fourth husband and still married to him. He described Tiger King as "very authentic," and that Joe Exotic's case was "complicated," according to Variety.