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Tiger King's Joe Exotic reveals prostate cancer diagnosis

Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki/AP/Shutterstock
Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki/AP/Shutterstock

Tiger King star Joe Exotic – whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage – has confirmed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Exotic shared an update about his health on Twitter, saying that he has been feeling very unwell recently.

"John Phillips (Exotic's lawyer) has received my medical records from FMC Fort Worth and my PSA count came back very high for prostate cancer," he said. "The prison has approved testing to verify what stage it is in. My body is tired, I have lost a tremendous amount of weight, the mouth sores are out of control, I throw up more than I eat."

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

Related: Why Carole Baskin won't be in Tiger King season 2

He went on to make another plea for an official pardon from President Joe Biden, before thanking his followers for their "love and support".

"I love you all. Wish me luck," he wrote.

Exotic is currently in prison serving a 22 year sentence, having been convicted on 17 charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire relating to Big Cat Rescue's Carole Baskin in 2019.

The former owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in the US has appeared in a number of documentaries, most notably Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, which took the world by storm when it debuted in March 2020.

Exotic's husband Dillon Passage confirmed in March this year that the pair have separated and are planning to divorce, with Passage saying that they are still on good terms.

"This wasn't an easy decision to make but Joe and I both understand that this situation isn't fair to either of us," he explained, adding: "I will continue to have Joe in my life and do my best to support him."

Meanwhile, US network NBC is planning a drama series about Exotic and has cast The Good Fight's John Cameron Mitchell as Exotic. Saturday Night Live's Kate McKinnon is due to play Baskin.

The limited series will be based on the Wondery podcast Joe Exotic, which revolves around Baskin and her attempts to shut down Exotic's big cat attraction.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is available to stream on Netflix now.


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