Tiger King’s Joe Exotic and husband Dillon Passage are divorcing after over three-years of marriage.
The docuseries star reportedly learned Passage, 25, is pulling the plug on the relationship via a phone call to the Fort Worth, Texas prison where the 58-year-old former animal trainer is currently serving out a 22-year sentence for plotting to murder rival Carole Baskin.
Exotic – full name Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage – is heartbroken according to his lawyer Francisco Hernandez, who spoke to TMZ.
Jilted Joe is considering rushing to file a petition to divorce in order to beat Passage, according to one source but another said he is still weighing his options.
It’s over: Tiger King star Joe Exotic and husband of three-years Dillon Passage are getting a divorce after Passage dumped the Netflix persona over the phone while Exotic continues to serve out his prison sentence
He reportedly emailed a friend while fresh from the phone call, telling them he feels ‘abandoned and alone and just wanted to mean something to someone,’ per TMZ.
Though the former owner of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park appears upset about the split, Dillon says that there are no hard feelings and he will still support Joe through his prison sentence.
Passage reportedly wants to breakup with Joe because he’s grown lonely during his husband’s time behind bars and would like to date again.
Maldonado-Passage was previously wed to Travis Maldonado, who accidentally shot himself in the head at Joe’s animal park in October of 2017, just two-months before tying the knot with Passage.
Nine-months later Joe would be arrested for his murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin.
Tragic: Maldonado-Passage was previously wed to Travis Maldonado, who accidentally shot himself in the head at Joe’s animal park in October of 2017, just two-months before tying the knot with Passage
Joe spoke out against his husband earlier this month via an angry tweet that accused Dillon of neglecting him.
He wrote: ‘Money destroyed my entire family. I won’t allow it to kill my soul. You win, Dillon, [Dillon’s manageer] Jeff Duncan, Carole [Baskin.]’
He also made mention of his late husband Maldonado, writing: ‘Come March 22nd for Travis’s Birthday I am going to keep his promise I made the day he died. I don’t need the fame, the money or the bulls***, you can have it all…’
The ex zoo operator wrote in another tweet: ‘…It’s pretty sad to be in prison and still mean f***ing nothing that ya can’t even answer a phone. I see where I stand. #justiceforjoeexotic #tigerking.’
Dillon took to Instagram with a lengthy statement in response, which he posted with a photo of himself and his dogs.
Wedding bells: Dillon and Joe tied the knot in December of 2017, just two months after Travis died at 23 years old of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound
In response: Dillon took to Instagram with a lengthy statement in response, which he posted with a photo of himself and his dogs
He wrote: ‘I wanted to get a post up to address Joe’s recent activity on social media. He and I, like everyone in any relationship, go through their ups and downs. This is magnified by the fact that our relationship is very public and the fact that one of his only outlets is social media.
‘Unfortunately it isn’t the healthiest place to deal with personal affairs and not how I normally handle my relationship challenges.
‘Joe is obviously having a difficult time in prison and I don’t think any of us can fault him for that. I’ve never spoken poorly of Joe, through the ups and the downs and through his good and his bad. I see through all of this and recognize and realize it for what it is; a man in prison just trying to do his best.’
The Florida bartender added: ‘The presidential pardon we were all waiting for never came and our hopes were dashed. I remain in support of Joe and want to be there for him. At 25, I also need to make sure I’m healthy, both body and mind. I know even though Joe may rant, he wants the best for me as I do for him. I am certain he wants me to lead a full life as all of you do for the people you love.
Three’s company: Joe was in a polyamorous relationship with Travis and John Finlay, 36, at the time they had an unofficial three-partner wedding in 2015, before he and Finlay had a falling out
‘Social media is not natural to me and if I’m quiet it’s usually because I’m working through all of this and processing to the best of my ability. I didn’t and don’t want the spotlight. I’ve been thrown into this and just doing my best to support Joe, live my life, and love my dogs.’
He concluded: ‘Be gentle to people on social; you never know the challenges they are dealing with and the hardships they carry. There is always a hidden struggle for all of us.’
Dillon and Joe tied the knot in December of 2017, just two months after Travis died at 23-years-old of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Behind bars: He was arrested in September of 2018 and later convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Baskin
Presidential pardon: The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort (pictured in August, 2013)
Joe was in a polyamorous relationship with Travis and John Finlay, 36, at the time they had an unofficial three-partner wedding in 2015, before he and Finlay had a falling out.
He was arrested in September of 2018 and later convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill Baskin.
The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort.
He most recently hired a new legal team, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial.
Legal action: He most recently hired a new legal team Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin’s missing husband Don Lewis, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial
Attorney John Phillips of Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin’s missing husband Don Lewis, made the announcement in a video on Joe’s Twitter.
He said: ‘We are honored to announce that Joe has retained our firm. We’re going to seek a new trial, and justice in the criminal and civil courts.’
Joe has also promised some juicy secrets in Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir, which is set to set to be published in November.
He told E! News of the book: ‘It’s going to be a truth-tell book… Everybody that’s ever done anything good, it’s going to be in there and anybody that’s got bones in your closet, you better look out.’
Dirty secrets: Joe has also promised some juicy secrets in Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir, which is set to set to be published in November