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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
James Brinsford

Joe Exotic 'does not have coronavirus' despite moving prison for isolation

Joe Exotic has not contracted the novel coronavirus, according to his husband Dillon Passage.

The star of Netflix breakout docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness was moved to Fort Worth in Texas after inmates at his county jail displayed symptoms of the potentially fatal virus.

Passage confirmed the news that Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was not ill when speaking to Entertainment Tonight.

Exotic, 57, had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for plotting to murder his nemesis, animal rights activist Carole Baskin, as well as a variety of animal abuse charges.

Joe has always maintained his innocence despite being convicted.

Joe Exotic and fourth husband Dillon Passage (Joe Exotic/Instagram)

Passage said: "He does not have COVID-19 but at the previous facility he was at, there were multiple cases.

"So when he got moved, I think it was just like a safety precaution for this new facility in Fort Worth."

Passage added that the move was to "keep him isolated just in case he did have it."

Netflix hit Tiger King told the story of Joe Exotic and what went on at The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park.

The zookeeper also aspired to be a country musician and politician, having a failed attempt to run for President of the United States.

He was also defined by his hatred for Carole Baskin, who ran Big Cat Rescue and became his arch rival.

Since being jailed, he has confessed to Netflix in a follow-up interview that he regrets some of his actions, especially when it came to the animals.

Joe Exotic may be released from isolation soon (JoeExoticTV/Youtube)

He said: "Go sit in a cage with your animals for a week. I mean, when I left the zoo and I sent my chimpanzees to the sanctuary in Florida and imagined what my chimpanzees went through for 18 years, I -- I'm ashamed of myself.”

He also admitted that he has given up on hating Carole Baskin, after it drove him to actions that saw him jailed.

Exotic admitted: "I'm done with the Carole Baskin saga. It's now time to turn the tables and Joe gets out of jail a free man and exonerated from all these charges."

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