Joe Exotic has failed to receive a pardon by Donald Trump as one of the president's final acts in office.
Exotic - real name Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage - became an international celebrity following the release of Netflix documentary series Tiger King last year - winning over fans with his outlandish outfits and eccentric personality.
The 57-year-old was convicted in 2019 of trying to hire a hit man to kill his rival Carol Baskin, as well as numerous animal abuse charges as the owner and operator of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Oklahoma. He is serving a 22-year sentence in Fort Worth, Texas.
A presidential pardon would have led to the release of Exotic from prison, ending his jail sentence.
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However, if Exotic was pardoned, his murder and animal cruelty convictions would not have been expunged entirely, and would have remained on his record. He also would have been unable to run for a political position or vote in elections.
While Exotic didn't get a mention in Trump's list, his former chief strategist Steve Bannon was one of 143 people the outgoing president pardoned. Trump also pardoned rapper Lil Wayne.
It comes ahead of President-elect Joe Biden being inaugurated today, (January 20th).
Private investigator Eric Love, who is leading Exotic's case, was previously confident of his client's pardon.
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"We're going to be celebrating," he told Metro yesterday. "We have good reason to believe it will come through. We're confident enough we already have a limousine parked about half a mile from the prison. We are really in action mode right now.
"I've got make-up, wardrobe, the whole unit that will come up. The first thing Joe wants to do, he wants his hair done. He hasn't had his hair done in two-and-a-half years. That's the first order of business. Then we'll probably go and get some pizzas, steak, maybe a McRib."
Exotic's team has already "shot a congratulatory video thanking Donald Trump" in anticipation of good news.
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However, not everyone welcomed the news Exotic was being released.
Peta UK repeatedly tweeted: "JOE EXOTIC IS AN ANIMAL ABUSER" to their 100,000 followers.
Another observer wrote: "Why do people idolise a man that kept incredible wild animals locked in tiny cages, their entire lives, for profit. Has anyone learned anything from the claustrophobia, loneliness & isolation of lockdown? What the hell did animals ever do to deserve the likes of us?"
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: Tiger King, News, Joe Exotic, Celebrity News, Netflix
