Joe Exotic’s lawyer has launched a GoFundMe to help the Tiger King star cover legal fees stemming from his ongoing feud with Carole Baskin.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, a judge has ordered Exotic to pay Baskin nearly $10,000 associated with her trademark infringement lawsuit. Meanwhile, the infamous zookeeper is asking for $500,000 to help pay off his settlement with Baskin.
John M. Phillips, Exotic’s lawyer, took to Twitter on Wednesday to plug the GoFundMe page. “Joe Exotic is asking for (you to) help him “pay that b- Carole Baskin back,” Phillips wrote. “Want to help? If you enjoyed Tiger King or had some Joe Exotic fun, please donate, share. Joe will connect with some donors when he can.”
Exotic’s GoFundMe page includes a long-winded life update from the zookeeper, who claims he still owes $1 million to Carole’s Big Cat Rescue organization as part of the aforementioned lawsuit.
“Since going to prison, my parents have died, my friends have died, and my marriage has failed. My partner even sold my clothes to random people,” Exotic writes, adding that he intends to “walk out of prison with my clothes on my back, a $1 million judgment and no home or clothes.”
Exotic, who back in November informed his supporters that a prostate biopsy had revealed an “aggressive cancer,” mentions that his health is “deteriorating,” before detailing how he intends to use the money.
“The fundraiser is set up to pay off Carole Baskin/Big Cat Resue’s judgement against me to give me a fresh start,” Exotic explained. “Once I pay that off, then I will use any additional funds raised to 1) restore my possessions and 2) give to a charity like Operation Smile or some true tiger conservation efforts.”
Exotic continued, “My lawyer, John M. Phillips, will put these funds in a trust account. He’s not taking a dime of this money. It’s to give me a fresh start.”
So far, Exotic has raised $105.
