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The “Tiger King” is the Meme King. If there was ever a person who lends himself to be immortalized in meme form, it’s Joe Exotic — a k a Joseph Maldonado-Passage, né Joseph Schreibvogel — of Netflix’s absurd docuseries “Tiger King,” which follows the ferocious feud between “big cat” enthusiasts and their spiral into a bungled murder-for-hire …
The “Tiger King” is the Meme King.
If there was ever a person who lends himself to be immortalized in meme form, it’s Joe Exotic — a k a Joseph Maldonado-Passage, né Joseph Schreibvogel — of Netflix’s absurd docuseries “Tiger King,” which follows the ferocious feud between “big cat” enthusiasts and their spiral into a bungled murder-for-hire plot.
Exotic — the 57-year-old mullet-sporting roadside zookeeper (now a convicted felon) and bizarro social media sensation, to put it lightly — has become the focus of much Internet attention. The feeding frenzy has only intensified as the seven-episode docuseries became the most streamed show on Netflix in America while many remain home in coronavirus lockdown.
The perfect storm of boredom, plus the made-for-TV insanity of the show and its kooky cast of characters has led to a flurry of memes about Exotic, his arch-nemesis (Big Cat Rescue’s Carole Baskin), Exotic’s many husbands (including John Finlay, Dillon Passage and Travis Maldonado), fellow zookeeper Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, business “partner” Jeff Lowe and even Exotic’s barely-hanging-on eyebrow ring.
Just for good measure, it also includes themes of a potential Nxivm-like sex cult, Hollywood, polygamy, an alleged murder cover-up, two political campaigns, animal abuse and rights, country music and a whole lot of sequins. Of course, Exotic’s — er, exotic — fashion was front and center.
Despite the sequins and mullet, everyone seemed to compare Exotic’s eyebrow ring to the current state of affairs.
Others were just thankful to have something to take their mind off the coronavirus pandemic.
Some were charmed by Baskin’s famous sign-on line, “Hey, all you cool cats and kittens.”
A few couldn’t help but divulge their thoughts on a conspiracy theory that Baskin was involved in her husband’s alleged disappearance.
Almost everyone pointed out the absurdity in the little things, from whistleblower James Garretson on a Jet Ski to “handyman” and would-be murderer Allen Glover’s interview in a bathtub and lead homicide detective John Marsicano’s home decor.
But the unbridled craziness, central to the plot, seemed to be the biggest draw.
