Is ‘Tiger King’ on Netflix Based on a True Story?

With the release of Tiger King, Netflix has done it again. And by it we mean given the world another harrowing true crime docuseries that’s too shocking to stop watching.

If you have yet to jump into this ominously titled docuseries, you’ probably have some questions. What is Tiger King about? Is Tiger King based on a true story? And did Carole Baskin really kill her first husband? You have questions, and we have answers. Here’s your guide to the new Netflix series that has even Kim Kardashian tweeting.

What Is Tiger King About?

Have you ever gotten the feeling that anyone who owns a big cat may be a little strange? Turns out you’re correct and this docuseries proves your hunch. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness starts as an examination of the big cat trade in the United States, but it quickly devolves into telling the story of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka Joe Exotic.

Joe Exotic founded and ran the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma. He would pay to feed his big cats as well as his own lifestyle by charging admission to the GW Zoo, charging for petting time with tiger cubs, and selling these animals on the side. Those latter two practices caught the eye of Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist and the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue. Baskin, alongside PETA, started criticizing Joe Exotic for his mistreatment of animals. Thus launched one of the oddest rivalries in recent years.

Tiger King follows the story of how Joe Exotic and Baskin’s feud evolved from petty YouTube videos and emails to the hire of a hitman. Along the way there were at least two more mysterious deaths, questionable marriages, a failed presidential run, and complicated political agendas. Basically, Tiger King is a crazy story that has to been seen to be believed.

Is Tiger King Based on a True Story?

Tiger King isn’t just based on a true story. It is a true story. Since it’s a docuseries, every detail chronicled actually happened and every interview comes from the people who were actually part of Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin’s fight. The series even features multiple interviews from both Joe Exotic and Baskin.

How Many Episodes Are in Tiger King?

Altogether there are seven hourlong episodes. But don’t worry. This series is so bonkers, seven episodes will almost feel like it isn’t enough.

What Happened to Carole Baskin’s Husband?

This is the mystery that has been bothering Kim Kardashian over the weekend. Baskin’s first husband was Jack “Don” Lewis. In 1997, Lewis allegedly went away to Costa Rica and never returned. Five years later, in 2002, he was legally declared dead.

Baskin has adamantly denied being involved in any way with her first husband’s disappearance. But both Lews’ family and Joe Exotic feel differently. Throughout the docuseries Lewis’ family claims that Baskin was emotionally and physically abusive to her first husband.

But as always the case in this crazy story it’s Joe Exotic’s claims that have garnered the most attention. Joe Exotic has alleged multiple times that Baskin murdered her first husband and either fed him to tigers or hid his body in the septic tank. He even wrote a song about it, titled “Hey Kitty Kitty,” which is completely on brand for this eccentric docuseries subject. There has been no proof to backup Joe Exotic’s claims, and Baskin has adamantly denied them.

What Caused Travis Maldonado’s Death?

There is another death in Tiger King that’s far less mysterious. In the back-half of the series it’s revealed why one of Joe Exotic’s husbands, Travis Maldonado, has yet to give an on camera interview. Maldonado died in 2017.

Joe Exotic, Travis Maldonado, and John Finlay all married each other in 2014. Finlay eventually left the relationship, claiming that Joe Exotic was becoming controlling and obsessive. Maldonado’s end was just as sad. While trying to prove that a gun wasn’t loaded, Maldonado shot himself in the head. The young man had a lifelong history with meth, and it’s believed that the drug contributed to his untimely death.

Watch Tiger King on Netflix