Hey, All You Cool Cats & Kittens.

"I'm gay and I'm broke as sh*t!" – Charming opening statements from America’s latest coronavirus distraction, Joe Exotic.

Exotic is the star and the villain of Netflix’s popular, seven-episode docuseries Tiger King. Tiger King gives us an inside look into the glamorous lifestyle that comes with illegally owning, breeding and selling, big cats (tigers, lion, “ligers”). Exotic’s Oklahoma-based zoo is flush with guns, meth and 400lb Tigers – what more could you ask for?

Zoo employees are given “housing” that’s crawling with rats and roaches, while being paid $100 a week for 10+ hour work days (which is every day). On the bright side, they get first dibs on expired meat from the back of a local Walmart truck and a boss who really has his employee’s best interest at heart.

“I’m never gonna financially recover from this”, Exotic’s initial concerns after his employee just had her arm severed by a tiger.

Sarcasm aside, as Tiger King progresses, the mistreatment/captivity of big cats becomes a second thought as each episode of the series peels back new layers of madness – exposing, drug use, cultism, misogyny, violence and murder.

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The series is grounded by this Elmer Fud vs. Bugs Bunny relationship, between, Exotic and wild life conservationist, Carol Baskin. Before the feud ended with his 22-year prison sentence, Exotic tormented Baskin. Elmer put snakes in her mailbox, used guns and explosives to send threats online, flew a helicopter over her house and tried to have her assassinated.

However, Exotic felt justified in his barbaric behavior because he (and the rest of the world) was convinced that good ole, soft-spoken-flower-crown-wearing-big-cat-loving, Carol Baskin – murdered her husband and fed his remains to her lions.

As if animal abuse and man slaughter wasn’t enough, Exotic’s “friend” Bhagavan “Doc” Antle pushes the envelope even further. Antle’s zoo is staffed by his four “wives” who, were forced to have sex with him at early adult ages, work 10+ hour days, and don’t make enough to leave – but somehow “aren’t being forced to stay” according to Antle.

Overall, this series is the most entertaining disaster since Honey Boo Boo.

It’s unfortunate that Tiger King’s success over shadowed Netflix’s heart-breaking documentary about Gabriel Fernandez. Apparently, during a time of global tragedy, viewers may not have room on their conscious for more. However, a mind-numbing, scandalous nature documentary/hill billy reality show – is exactly what the people ordered.

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It’s unclear whether or not Netflix’s goal was to, bring awareness to the unjust captivity of big cats or to entertain and disgust us with the most shameless examples of human behavior. I think all you cool cats and kittens should stream Tiger King and figure it out for yourselves.