A married man… once again.
Joe Exotic, the star of the hit Netflix show Tiger King, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage tied the knot with his prison boyfriend this week. The eccentric (to put it mildly) former owner and operator of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park is currently behind bars after being convicted in 2020 on two federal charges related to hiring a hitman to kill rival zoo owner Carole Baskin, as well as violations related to the Endangered Species Act and falsifying wildlife records.
Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison, and unfortunately he never got to experience the fame that he’s gained from the popularity of Tiger King, but since the documentary’s release he’s been doing his best to find a way to get himself sprung from the clink.
He lobbied for a pardon from President Donald Trump back in 2021, during the final days of Trump’s first term, but unfortunately the president had other things on his plate and the pardon for Joe Exotic never came. But yesterday, Exotic announced his marriage to Jorge Marquez, an illegal immigrant who he met in prison.
Exotic shared a new photo (that’s clearly photoshopped) of the couple on X announcing the marriage:
“Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband, Jorge Flores Maldonado.”
Never been more proud of someone.
Meet my husband Jorge Flores Maldonado pic.twitter.com/0Ee6lfxBSR— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) April 22, 2025
Exotic previously shared in October of last year that they were engaged, and he was hoping to either get asylum for Marquez, or they would both self-deport when they get out:
“Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we [will] be leaving America when we both get out. Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.”
Meet Jorge Marquez he is 33. He is so amazing and is from Mexico.
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. pic.twitter.com/MYRVPcy97Y
— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) October 29, 2024
Not long ago, Exotic released a single about his new love called “Shadows Into Light,” which certainly has some country twang to it, and focuses on the new life he’s started in prison with his now-husband. Of course, I think we all remember his previous hits “Here Kitty Kitty” and “I Saw a Tiger” among many others, so it looks like he hasn’t given up those musical dreams in prison.
Whether or not they’ll both get released and have the option to self-deport remains to be seen, but Exotic still has about 18 years left on his sentence, so if that ever happens, it’s likely going to be many, many years from now as the possibility of a pardon is more unlikely every year.
“Shadows Into Light”
