Tiger King's Joe Exotic Says He's Married to Fellow Prison Inmate
Share and Follow

Tiger King’s Joe Exotic has apparently tied the knot behind bars!

The Netflix true-crime documentary subject, 62, shared a post via X on Monday, April 21, seemingly announcing the news.

“Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband, Jorge Flores Maldonado,” Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, wrote alongside a digitally-altered photo of him and his new husband, né Jorge Marquez, in matching tuxedos.

Exotic is currently serving a 21-year federal prison sentence at Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, over an alleged murder-for-hire plot involving rival Carole Baskin.

Tiger King's Stars Where Are They Now

Here, Kitty Kitty! Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness has captivated audiences with its colorful cast of real-life characters and a string of bombshell revelations that made its backdrop of exotic animals appear tame. The Netflix docuseries explores the little-known world of exotic animal owners, who are involved in more than just acquiring animals for […]

Exotic first shared news of his engagement to his fellow prisoner in October last year. “Meet Jorge Marquez … he is 33. He is so amazing and is from Mexico,” Exotic shared via X at the time. “Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we be leaving America when we both get out. Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.”

In an October telephone interview with Entertainment Weekly, Exotic confirmed the engagement. “We filed our official papers for the marriage license from the prison yesterday, so we’re just waiting for an approval. He has picked out December 12 as the date we’re hoping to get this approved by,” Exotic said, telling the outlet that their application had to be approved “by the warden and psychiatry and the chaplain” before obtaining a marriage license.

“We love each other very much, spend every minute of the day together,” Exotic added.

Exotic was previously married to Travis Maldonado, who died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in October 2017 at the age of 23. Exotic married Dillon Passage two months after Maldonado’s death.

Exotic and Passage separated in 2020 and Passage announced his intention to divorce the following year. “To answer the main question the public wants to know, yes, Joe and I are seeking a divorce. This wasn’t an easy decision to make but Joe and I both understand that this situation isn’t fair to either of us. It’s something that neither of us were expecting but we are going to take it day by day,” Passage wrote via Instagram in March 2021.

In March 2022, Exotic’s lawyer, Autumn Beck Blackledge, confirmed to People that the incarcerated former zookeeper had filed for divorce.

Tiger King Dillon Passage Reveals He Joe Exotic Have Talked About Open Marriage

Joe Exotic and Dillon Passage in ‘Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness’.
Netflix

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly last November, Exotic said he is still hopeful that his conviction will be overturned and he will be freed.

“My prostate cancer is in remission, [but] they believe I have cancer in my left lung. I have to take it as it comes,” he said. “I still have faith that I’m going to walk out of here — I just need to live for the next five or six months and hope for the best.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Victoria Beckham’s Controversial Wedding Attire: The Fashion Moment That Stole the Spotlight at Brooklyn’s Nuptials

If there’s one thing you can be sure…

Brooklyn Beckham’s Career Journey: From Abandoned Photography Degree to Barista Experience

For years, Brooklyn Beckham has faced the recurring question: What exactly is…

Celebrities Applaud Rachel Ward, 68, for Embracing Natural Beauty

Rachel Ward, renowned for her role in “The Thorn Birds,” recently found…

Explore the Extravagant Lifestyle of Erika Kirk: A Glimpse into Her Luxurious World

Erika Kirk’s extravagant lifestyle is hardly surprising given…

Britani Bateman Vows to Cut Ties with Meredith Marks on RHOSLC Amidst Controversy Over Bigotry Allegations

In a recent development on the drama-filled stage of The Real Housewives…

Inside the Love Story of Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann: A Timeline

Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann Courtesy of Jana Duggar/YouTube; Courtesy of the…

Troye Sivan Responds to Unwanted Plastic Surgery Tips from TikTok Influencer: A Call for Authenticity

Troye Sivan is taking control of the conversation after a TikTok physician…

Jaime King’s Marriage Ends Amid Rumors of New Romance with Hotel Tycoon

Jaime King is facing another chapter of marital separation. According to TMZ,…