Netflix(LOS ANGELES) — Joe Exotic is fighting back from behind bars.
In documents obtained by TMZ, Exotic, the focus of Netflix’s new limited series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, claims that he was the victim of malicious prosecution and discrimination and was falsely arrested and imprisoned.
The eccentric animal collector, whose birth name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is currently serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison for the attempted murder of his arch-enemy Carole Baskin but before that, he ran a popular Oklahoma zoo.
The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Federal Wildlife Service for placing the “generic tiger” on the endangered species list as a targeted move to run his business (and others like it) out of commission, which Exotic equates to “stealing my property and promoting an animal rights agenda.”
In addition, he alleges he was “discriminated against because he is the only person charged with this statute because [he] is an openly gay male with the largest collection of generic tigers and crossbreeds.”
Exotic is seeking a total of $78,840,000 for the loss of personal property and 18 years’ worth of his research and care for tigers.
He is also seeking an additional $15 million in a lawsuit against his former business partner, Jeff Lowe — for allegedly lying to the authorities and planting evidence — and another former associate for being an informant.
He claims the combination of all these acts led to the passing of his mother, Shirley.
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.