Joe Exotic Announced His Engagement—And It’s a Roaring Affair!
Well, folks, grab your popcorn because the latest episode of “As the Tiger Turns” has just dropped! That’s right, Tiger King star Joe Exotic, a man whose life is more chaotic than a cat with a laser pointer, has announced his engagement while serving a 21-year prison sentence. How romantic! Who says love can’t bloom behind bars? Apparently, nothing says “I love you” quite like a joint cell block!
Joe, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado, took to X to announce his intentions to the world. His future husband, the charming 33-year-old Jorge Marquez, hails from Mexico and clearly has a taste for the wild side. In his announcement, Exotic gushed, “He is so amazing and is from Mexico.” So, it seems we have a classic case of love at first sight—via a prison window! One can only hope their wedding vows include lines like, “In sickness and in health, through good behavior and parole!”
Getting Hitched with the Federal Bureau of Love
Now, if you thought planning a wedding was stressful, try doing it from a cell! Exotic mentioned he has submitted a marriage application to the federal prison. I can only imagine the sheer amount of paperwork involved. “I’d like to marry Jorge, and could you also check if they have vegan food at the reception?” Ah, yes, prison weddings—where the decor includes peanut butter sandwiches and an open-access yard!
But let’s dive into the details of this grand romance. Joe Exotic’s engagement isn’t just about Netflix fame or exotic cats; this is about love surviving against all odds (and potentially getting extradited!). With Jorge in the picture, Joe seems to be trading in tiger tails for wedding tales. Can we also talk about the fact that Joe wishes he had met Jorge long ago? Seriously, what was he doing back in his early 30s? Probably filming his infamous documentary while trying to avoid the law—and women with inspirational YouTube channels!
What About His Past Partners?
Ah, the complications of Joe’s extensive love life. Before Jorge, there was John Finlay and Travis Maldonado—two names that could probably give “The Bachelor” a run for its money, right? Joe famously had an unofficial three-way marriage and later officially married Travis in 2015, before tragedy struck with Travis’s untimely death. Intriguingly, not long after, Joe married Dillon Passage, who—surprise, surprise—filed for divorce. It looks like the only thing more tumultuous than Joe’s romantic relationships is his prison sentence!
So, there we have it—what’s going to come next in the episode of Joe Exotic’s Life? Will Jorge come with a trained tiger as a wedding gift? Will their honeymoon be spent lost in a field of dreams—or in the prison yard counting the minutes until release? Love finds a way, even if it’s behind bars, and with Joe Exotic in the mix, you can bet it will be anything but boring!
Final Thoughts
If nothing else, Joe’s latest announcement gives us all a glimmer of hope: love knows no bounds, even in the unlikeliest of places. So, here’s to Joe and Jorge—may your future be filled with love, laughter, and perhaps a few less media-driven murder plots. After all, if you’re going to commit to someone, make sure the only thing you’re doing time for is a bad hairstyle!
Joe Exotic, the star of the infamous Netflix documentary series Tiger King, has taken to social media to announce his engagement to a fellow inmate while serving time in federal prison.
The 61-year-old, whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado, shared his exciting news on X, revealing that he plans to marry 33-year-old Jorge Marquez, who hails from Mexico. “He is so amazing and is from Mexico,” Exotic expressed, bubbling with joy. “Now, the quest of getting married in prison and getting him asylum or we [will] be leaving America when we both get out.”
Exotic reminisced on their connection, stating, “Either way, I wish I would have met him long ago.” Despite his current incarceration, he remains hopeful about their future together and the possibility of a life outside the confines of prison walls.
Joe Exotic has gained notoriety for his tumultuous life and dramatic exploits, not least of which includes an infamous rivalry with big cat activist Carole Baskin. He is serving a 21-year prison sentence after attempting to orchestrate a murder-for-hire plot targeting Baskin, who accused him of animal cruelty and poor treatment of his exotic animals.
Prosecutors presented shocking details during his trial, revealing that Exotic had offered $10,000 to an undercover agent posing as a hitman, instructing, “Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off.” While Exotic has consistently denied the charges against him, his legal team argued that he was merely joking, and his actions were not to be taken seriously.
In addition to the murder-for-hire conviction, Exotic was also found guilty of multiple counts relating to the killing of five tigers, the illegal sale of tiger cubs, and the falsification of wildlife records. Consequently, his wildlife park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, has permanently shut its doors.
In a bid to formalize his relationship with Marquez, Exotic is reportedly working through the paperwork to file a marriage application with the federal prison authorities, underscoring his determination to start a new chapter in his life.
Exotic once famously navigated the complexities of love within the tiger kingdom, having had an unofficial three-way marriage with John Finlay and the late Travis Maldonado, whom he officially married in 2015. Tragically, Maldonado passed away in October 2017 from a self-inflicted, accidental gunshot wound, leaving a profound impact on Exotic’s life. In the wake of this loss, Exotic married Dillon Passage two months later, but the relationship ultimately ended with Passage filing for divorce.
**Interview with Joe Exotic: Love in the Time of Prison**
**Editor:** Hello, Joe! It’s great to have you here—figuratively speaking, of course. Congratulations on your recent engagement! Let’s dive right into it. How does it feel to announce your engagement from behind bars?
**Joe Exotic:** Thank you! It’s like a breath of fresh air, honestly. Who said love couldn’t flourish in prison? Jorge is amazing, and I’m grateful to have found him. I just hope people can see that love can happen anywhere, even in the most unexpected places.
**Editor:** Jorge sounds like a special person. Can you tell us more about how you met?
**Joe Exotic:** Well, it wasn’t your typical meet-cute. We connected during a group therapy session, and I was just drawn to him. He’s from Mexico and has such a vibrant spirit! It was like a spark, you know? And now we’re planning our future together.
**Editor:** Planning a wedding from prison must be quite the task! How are you handling the logistics?
**Joe Exotic:** Oh, you have no idea! I’m on a first-name basis with the prison staff at this point. I’ve submitted our marriage application, and let’s just say, it’s a stack of paperwork taller than I am! But hey, we’ll make it work. If I can survive this life, I can survive planning a prison wedding!
**Editor:** That sounds challenging yet exciting! And how do you envision the big day?
**Joe Exotic:** (laughs) Think very simple but sweet! A few decorations, maybe some peanut butter sandwiches, and I want a big sign that says “LOVE CONQUERS ALL”! But really, as long as Jorge is there, I couldn’t care less about the details.
**Editor:** Given your colorful romantic past, how do you think this relationship is different?
**Joe Exotic:** This feels genuine, you know? With Jorge, I can be myself without all the drama. I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs in relationships, but this time, I really believe in what we have. I just wish I’d met him sooner—maybe in my 30s instead of the mess my life became!
**Editor:** Speaking of your past, do you feel like it influences your current relationship?
**Joe Exotic:** Absolutely. My past has taught me a lot about love and loss. I’ve been through heartbreak, and I’ve made mistakes. But with Jorge, I want to build something lasting. We talk about the future—whether it’s staying here in the U.S. or maybe moving to Mexico.
**Editor:** That’s quite a hopeful outlook! You’re bringing a lot of joy to your fans with this news. What message do you want to send to others about love?
**Joe Exotic:** Love is wild, unpredictable, and sometimes it finds you in the strangest of places! Keep your heart open, and don’t let anyone tell you what love should look like. If I can find it here, outside the bars, you can too!
**Editor:** Thank you, Joe! Your story is indeed a reminder of the resilience of love. We wish you all the best in your upcoming nuptials!
**Joe Exotic:** Thanks! And remember—no matter what happens, keep the popcorn ready; my life is always an adventure!
