‘Tiger King’ Star Weds Fellow Inmate in Prison Ceremony
Joe Exotic, the infamous former zookeeper who rose to international fame through Netflix’s “Tiger King” documentary, has tied the knot with fellow prison inmate Jorge Flores Maldonado while serving his 21-year sentence for a murder-for-hire plot. The 62-year-old reality star, whose legal name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, shared the news on social media Monday, posting a photo of himself and his new husband standing under a trellis adorned with flowers.
“Never been more proud of someone. Meet my husband, Jorge Flores Maldonado,” wrote the controversial figure, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The marriage comes after Exotic announced his engagement to Flores last October, describing his partner as “amazing” and revealing he is 33 years old and originally from Mexico.
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Love Behind Bars: An Unlikely Romance Blooms
The relationship between Exotic and Flores appears to have developed rapidly within the confines of the federal facility. According to Fox News, the couple met after Flores was transferred to the Fort Worth facility from the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, where he had been held after entering the United States illegally.
“From the very day we met, we’ve spent every minute of every day together,” Exotic told the outlet in a previous interview. “And it just clicked so fast and so sincere, and it’s amazing. I wished I would have met Jorge months ago or a couple of years ago, but God had a plan, I guess.”
The prison wedding required approval from various officials within the federal correctional system. Exotic had previously expressed concern about whether their marriage paperwork would be approved by the facility’s chaplain, warden, and captain, noting: “Heterosexuals get married in here all day long. But I’m hoping that they respect our constitutional right, and we will still uphold and abide by the rules and the law.”
Health Concerns and Hope for Freedom
Beyond the celebration of their relationship, Exotic’s social media posts have revealed he is battling health challenges while incarcerated. According to People, Exotic recently shared on Instagram that his new spouse has been supporting him through a difficult health journey.
“He has gotten me through so much fighting cancer under these conditions,” wrote the former zookeeper, who has been vocal about his health struggles while in prison. His post continued with a direct appeal to former President Donald Trump, who Exotic hopes might intervene in his case: “All I pray to God for is Trump [to] allow me to enjoy a little life outside with him before it’s too late. I love you Jorge you are my life.”
Exotic’s health battles add urgency to his ongoing quest for release from prison. He has filed multiple petitions requesting a new trial and a reduced sentence since his 2020 conviction on 19 federal charges, including a murder-for-hire plot targeting his longtime rival, animal rights activist Carole Baskin, as well as multiple violations of the Endangered Species Act after killing five tigers.
Third Marriage for the Controversial Personality
This marks Exotic’s third marriage, following two previous relationships that ended in tragedy and controversy. According to Entertainment Weekly, he was previously married to Travis Maldonado from 2015 until 2017, when Maldonado accidentally shot himself and died.
Just two months after that tragedy, Exotic married Dillon Passage, but that relationship ended in 2021 while Exotic was already serving his prison sentence. Regarding his past relationships, Exotic has made bitter remarks about his experiences, stating: “I’ve been through some s— in my days. I buried two husbands, the third one ran off with 2.6 million bucks from Netflix and left my ass here, but Jorge is a very amazing young man.”
While Exotic continues to serve his 21-year sentence (reduced from an initial 22 years in 2022), he and his new husband have discussed plans for their future together. The “Tiger King” star has mentioned hopes for securing asylum for Flores, adding that if they are eventually released, they might leave the United States together.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has maintained its standard policy of not commenting on the conditions of confinement for individuals in their custody, and has not officially confirmed the marriage ceremony took place within the facility.
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