Jailhouse interview with Joe Exotic, star of Netflix’s Tiger King...Where is he now?

SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - In a jailhouse interview, Joseph Maldonado, better known as Joe Exotic from Netflix’s hit show Tiger King, shared about life behind bars as he appeals his federal convictions.

He’s a former zoo owner and big-cat lover who was federally sentenced to a murder-for-hire scheme in January 2020 involving Carole Baskin.

He was brought to the Santa Rosa County Jail last week for a civil lawsuit he filed involving copyright infringement for his country music.

Maldonado has been incarcerated since before the show aired in March 2020. He said there’s some misconceptions to clear up.

Joe: You know, I’ve never seen the show, so I must go off what people have told me, and some of the comments I get on social media. I have never in my life, even now been accused or charged with animal cruelty or animal abuse by any law enforcement agency other than PETA. I’m not in here for animal abuse. I’m in here for taking five endangered species without a permit. They claimed I should have had a permit to euthanize my five sick tigers.

Back in 2020, Maldonado was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison after a 12-person jury convicted him of two counts of murder for hire, eight counts of violating the Lacey Act for falsifying wildlife records, and nine counts of violating the Endangered Species Act. That involves shooting and killing five tigers in 2017 without a veterinarian present.

The murder for hire involves his long-time nemesis Carole Baskin, another big-cat lover. According to a US attorney, Maldonado paid a hit man $3,000 to kill her, with a promise to pay more after. Maldonado claimed that is not true, and he was framed.

Though now, years after the show, he said he’s let go of a lot of hatred.

Joe: I don’t even blame Carole. We were at war for years, making money off each other. I’ve forgiven everybody, even James and Jeff because they need it. Could I walk out of here tomorrow and forget every one of them people? That’s my goal. Tiger King is over. This is about Joe getting out of jail. They’re never going to be movie stars. It’s over. It’s time to let it go.

He is currently on his appeal for those convictions, and he said his case could be heard by the end of the year.

Lacey Beasley, FOX10 News: What would you do if you got out?

Joe: First thing I’m going to do is go to 7-Eleven and get a pack of Marlboro Lights. Second thing I’m going to do is go to Fort Smith, Arkansas and hang on to Seth like he’s never going anywhere else again. Then, I have been offered a world tour to do a concert, and then my long-time goal is to testify in front of congress about prison and justice reform.

Lacey: Would you go back to the big cat industry? Go back to having big cats?

Joe: I would not go back to owning any animals. I’m done with the harassment from the animal rights people. I’ve learned my lesson. Sitting in a jail cell, I kind of feel how they felt now, and I should have provided them with a lot more than I did.

Lacey: You are known as Tiger King. Are you still Tiger King even from behind bars?”

Joe: I will forever be the Tiger King. I don’t belong here, and I hope that the world will help me get out.

There is a Free Joe Exotic event in Pensacola on April 23 at 9 a.m.

Maldonado said he has no intention of ever watching the show, and he’s never made a penny from Netflix.

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