Okay, so we are quarantined, yadda yadda yadda. Obviously, if you don't live under a rock you've heard about Tiger King. if you don't want any spoilers, don't read this. I wanted to put my thoughts on paper about just how morally suspect these characters are and I came up with this list:
25. Saff
Saff is too good for Joe Exotic’s world. He not only cared about the animals he was entrusted with, but lost his fucking hand to save them and his boss. Throughout the series, Saff proves himself as loyal, trustworthy, and is significantly smarter than most of those around him. Nothing he says sends off an, ‘oh, this guy is also a creep’ bad signal. That’s pretty high praise.
24. Barbara Fisher
Barbara gives us the inside deets on Doc Antle’s cult, and for that she deserves praise. Those who get out and speak about what it’s like ‘inside’ are invaluable to the process of saving people from cults and people in relationships with dubious consent. Glad she’s living her best life.
23. Anne McQueen
Anne seems like a genuinely good business manager who tried to do what was in her boss’ best interest while also telling her boss’s wife she’s low-key dumb ass. I approve.
22. John Reinke
Loyalty goes a long way with me, and while I think Reinke trusts Joe a bit too much, he’s definitely loyal. I think he also really cared about the animals under his care and seems like a genuinely good person despite the fact that he befriended such a hot mess of a train wreck.
21. Joseph Fritz
Atty Joseph Fritz has a lot to say – especially about Don Lewis’ will. Nothing inherently bad about this guy except I wish he’d had the guts to say who he thought killed Don. Then again, he probably knows the law well enough not to fall on that sword.
20. Gladys Lewis Cross
Don’s ex-wife got a raw deal with Don. He, apparently, slept around and with women half his age. She seems to really have cared about him even if I do think her motivations regarding money might be suspect.
19. Sheriff Rhodes
I don’t know. He’s doing what sheriffs do? Not good or bad, I guess.
18. Joshua Dial
Libertarian campaign manager to Joe Exotics various campaigns, this guy had integrity. However, he did help run a presidential campaign or a guy he admits he knew was ‘crazy’ because of their many conversations at the Walmart ammo counter. So, while I like you, Josh…ambition got you doing some bad shit.
17. Don’s Daughters
Not unlike their mother, I think they got a raw deal. But unlike their mother, I get the vibe that all that mattered to them was the money anyway.
16. Travis Maldonado
You might wonder why Joe’s straight husbands come near the middle of the pack. None of them really did anything ‘evil’ or anything. That said, They kept a lot of Joe’s secrets and so have a bit of guilt by association. That said, Travis seems a pure spirit taken in by a guy who some weed and big cats. His story is sad.
Don’s ex-wife got a raw deal with Don. He, apparently, slept around and with women half his age. She seems to really have cared about him even if I do think her motivations regarding money might be suspect.
19. Sheriff Rhodes
I don’t know. He’s doing what sheriffs do? Not good or bad, I guess.
18. Joshua Dial
Libertarian campaign manager to Joe Exotics various campaigns, this guy had integrity. However, he did help run a presidential campaign or a guy he admits he knew was ‘crazy’ because of their many conversations at the Walmart ammo counter. So, while I like you, Josh…ambition got you doing some bad shit.
17. Don’s Daughters
Not unlike their mother, I think they got a raw deal. But unlike their mother, I get the vibe that all that mattered to them was the money anyway.
16. Travis Maldonado
You might wonder why Joe’s straight husbands come near the middle of the pack. None of them really did anything ‘evil’ or anything. That said, They kept a lot of Joe’s secrets and so have a bit of guilt by association. That said, Travis seems a pure spirit taken in by a guy who some weed and big cats. His story is sad.
15. John Finlay
John and Travis have a similar story, only John got his happy ending, finally marrying a fellow employee of GW Zoo. Makes me think there was some cheating happening back in the day. All speculation, of course. He did love his crocodiles, though.
John and Travis have a similar story, only John got his happy ending, finally marrying a fellow employee of GW Zoo. Makes me think there was some cheating happening back in the day. All speculation, of course. He did love his crocodiles, though.
14. Dillon Passage
Joe’s current husband might actually be gay? I don’t know. Time will tell. But they are still together and he stands by his man – even while Exotic waits out his sentence in prison. Dillon is neither good nor bad in that we don’t know much about him at all.
13. Erik Cowie
In some ways, Erik is a libertarian champion. When asked ‘How many wives does Doc have?’ he answers, ‘I don’t give a fuck’. But that also implies that he doesn’t care that this dude is running a cult and fishing for teenage girls with wildlife. The ultimate moral centrist, I guess.
Joe’s current husband might actually be gay? I don’t know. Time will tell. But they are still together and he stands by his man – even while Exotic waits out his sentence in prison. Dillon is neither good nor bad in that we don’t know much about him at all.
13. Erik Cowie
In some ways, Erik is a libertarian champion. When asked ‘How many wives does Doc have?’ he answers, ‘I don’t give a fuck’. But that also implies that he doesn’t care that this dude is running a cult and fishing for teenage girls with wildlife. The ultimate moral centrist, I guess.
12. Rick Kirkham
I love Rick. Rick should have a billion dollars by now. That said, he happily profited (or hoped to profit) off of animal cruelty and people who were very clearly not in a position to present their best selves by way of addiction and/or poverty. So, morally speaking Rick is getting into iffy territory.
11. Howard Baskin
I think Howard probably isn’t a bad dude – but he is married to Carole and will do all her bidding no matter that moral consequence. For that reason, he can’t be a ‘good guy’ in this story. Please, Howard, whatever you do, hide the sardine oil from Carole.
10. Lauren Lowe
Similarly to Howard, she’s just married to a real POS. What makes her slightly worse is that she helps him lure in other victims and participates in the ‘sex for tigers’ thing he’s got going on. It’s a bad look. Hope she gets out of that relationship.
I love Rick. Rick should have a billion dollars by now. That said, he happily profited (or hoped to profit) off of animal cruelty and people who were very clearly not in a position to present their best selves by way of addiction and/or poverty. So, morally speaking Rick is getting into iffy territory.
11. Howard Baskin
I think Howard probably isn’t a bad dude – but he is married to Carole and will do all her bidding no matter that moral consequence. For that reason, he can’t be a ‘good guy’ in this story. Please, Howard, whatever you do, hide the sardine oil from Carole.
10. Lauren Lowe
Similarly to Howard, she’s just married to a real POS. What makes her slightly worse is that she helps him lure in other victims and participates in the ‘sex for tigers’ thing he’s got going on. It’s a bad look. Hope she gets out of that relationship.
9. Brittany Peet (PETA)
Did Brittany do anything immoral in the show? Not really – except pretending like Carole’s cat rescue is somehow a lot different than Joe Exotic’s. That said, she works for a company that is hypocritical and contributes to the euthanasia of animals by the truckload so I don’t think she’s a hero.
8. Don Lewis
By all accounts, Don was a piece of shit. So, we know this list is about to go downhill fast. He was a serial cheater, bred big cats in captivity, didn’t seem to care about them outside of making money – and he MIGHT have faked his own death as a parting shot to his wife. We still don’t know. And that’s why keeps him higher on the list than others.
Did Brittany do anything immoral in the show? Not really – except pretending like Carole’s cat rescue is somehow a lot different than Joe Exotic’s. That said, she works for a company that is hypocritical and contributes to the euthanasia of animals by the truckload so I don’t think she’s a hero.
8. Don Lewis
By all accounts, Don was a piece of shit. So, we know this list is about to go downhill fast. He was a serial cheater, bred big cats in captivity, didn’t seem to care about them outside of making money – and he MIGHT have faked his own death as a parting shot to his wife. We still don’t know. And that’s why keeps him higher on the list than others.
7. Carole Baskin
Is the Big Cat Rescue a money making endeavor? Yes. Is she a hypocrite? Yes. Is she sanctimonious and obnoxious? You betcha. Did she kill her husband? Maybe. So, she’s bad. Okay. But that kernel of doubt maker her only the 7th worst person documented in this series.
6. James Garretson
The FBI informant turned Jet Ski enthusiast likes to fancy himself the hero of this story, but he’s sad, pathetic, and worst of all a ‘yes man’. I hate an ass kisser and I get the feeling that he’s spent a long time kissing Jeff Lowe’s ass. His hands are dirty too, but he jetted off into the sunset, free as a bird, by rolling over on others. I’m not a fan.
5. Joe Exotic
Honestly, I think Joe did start his Zoo with good intentions. Make money doing something you love. But by the end, he was not only not all about the animals, but those animals were also being horribly abused and neglected. As his narcissism grew, so did his exploitation of animals and human beings – breeding cubs he couldn’t pay for, luring in straight young men with meth and weed, and eventually considering killing a person because of his obsession with her.
4. Tim Stark
Tim was a minor character, but as a ‘private zoo’ owner in Indiana, I took a bit of interest in him. Turns out the State of Indiana is going after him for many crimes against animals including abuse and neglect. He doesn’t give a shit about wildlife.
3. Jeff Lowe
This POS. He’s abusive. He’s a con artist and manipulator. There isn’t much good about him at all. And, it turns out, he might have been the one to put the murder for hire idea into Joe’s head in the first place! He only cares about #1, and he will destroy anyone to protect himself.
2. Mario Tabraue
While not a terribly interesting character in the series, he DID inspire Tony Montana in ‘Scarface’ and therefore, we cannot ignore his moral character. Honestly, as bad as cutting up a body and disposing of it is, that’s not why he ranks so low. It’s the fact that he and his father smuggled drugs into the country by way of living animals. The amount of animals he must have killed or put at risk is staggering.
1. Doc Antle
This guy is a piece of work. He’s getting away with it because he knows how to keep his mouth shut and comes off as more refined than people like Joe Exotic or Tim Stark. In reality, the man is absolutely running a wildlife cult – convincing young girls that his penis will give them enlightenment and that working 24/7 for $100/week is a ‘calling’ or ‘lifestyle’ rather than labor exploitation. Numerous people have accused him of euthanizing his big cats when they are no longer profitable and, honestly, given how many he breeds it’s the only logical conclusion. Doc is, morally, the worst and he is the one who will likely continue to live his life freely because he has the right connections and knows exactly how to work the system.
Is the Big Cat Rescue a money making endeavor? Yes. Is she a hypocrite? Yes. Is she sanctimonious and obnoxious? You betcha. Did she kill her husband? Maybe. So, she’s bad. Okay. But that kernel of doubt maker her only the 7th worst person documented in this series.
6. James Garretson
The FBI informant turned Jet Ski enthusiast likes to fancy himself the hero of this story, but he’s sad, pathetic, and worst of all a ‘yes man’. I hate an ass kisser and I get the feeling that he’s spent a long time kissing Jeff Lowe’s ass. His hands are dirty too, but he jetted off into the sunset, free as a bird, by rolling over on others. I’m not a fan.
5. Joe Exotic
Honestly, I think Joe did start his Zoo with good intentions. Make money doing something you love. But by the end, he was not only not all about the animals, but those animals were also being horribly abused and neglected. As his narcissism grew, so did his exploitation of animals and human beings – breeding cubs he couldn’t pay for, luring in straight young men with meth and weed, and eventually considering killing a person because of his obsession with her.
4. Tim Stark
Tim was a minor character, but as a ‘private zoo’ owner in Indiana, I took a bit of interest in him. Turns out the State of Indiana is going after him for many crimes against animals including abuse and neglect. He doesn’t give a shit about wildlife.
3. Jeff Lowe
This POS. He’s abusive. He’s a con artist and manipulator. There isn’t much good about him at all. And, it turns out, he might have been the one to put the murder for hire idea into Joe’s head in the first place! He only cares about #1, and he will destroy anyone to protect himself.
2. Mario Tabraue
While not a terribly interesting character in the series, he DID inspire Tony Montana in ‘Scarface’ and therefore, we cannot ignore his moral character. Honestly, as bad as cutting up a body and disposing of it is, that’s not why he ranks so low. It’s the fact that he and his father smuggled drugs into the country by way of living animals. The amount of animals he must have killed or put at risk is staggering.
1. Doc Antle
This guy is a piece of work. He’s getting away with it because he knows how to keep his mouth shut and comes off as more refined than people like Joe Exotic or Tim Stark. In reality, the man is absolutely running a wildlife cult – convincing young girls that his penis will give them enlightenment and that working 24/7 for $100/week is a ‘calling’ or ‘lifestyle’ rather than labor exploitation. Numerous people have accused him of euthanizing his big cats when they are no longer profitable and, honestly, given how many he breeds it’s the only logical conclusion. Doc is, morally, the worst and he is the one who will likely continue to live his life freely because he has the right connections and knows exactly how to work the system.
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