Zoo owner and Netflix hero Joe Exotic has officially suffered his greatest blow yet after judges in Oklahoma awarded Carole Basking control of his zoo.
The compound, in Wynnewood Oklahoma was handed over to Ms. Baskin after Joe failed to pay her $1m in copyright and trademark suits.
Joe Exotic is currently in custody after being found guilty of animal abuse and a murder-for-hire plan that targeted Baskin. He was sentenced to 22 years for 17 counts of abuse of animals and for attempting to murder Carole.
The copyright claims by Baskin stem back to the events captured in Tiger King when Joe used her company’s image and logos to taunt Baskin, as well as a series of parody music videos at her expense. His zoo was briefly controlled by Jeff Lowe, Exotic’s former business partner and his mother.
According to Baskin’s attorneys, Joe illegally transferred his zoo to the pair to avoid having to give it up to pay his debts to Carole Baskin who had previously sued him for trademark violations.
Under Oklahoma law, Jeff Lowe must vacate the premises of the zoo and remove all the animals within 4 month.s
According to court documents, Lowe has 120 days to vacate the zoo, which he had renamed Tiger King Park, and to remove all animals.
With no comment from Joe Exotic, Jeff Lowe told TMZ that they had “long anticipated that the judge would eventually undo the 2016 land transfer. We are thankful that he dragged out his decision this long and allowed us time to complete the new Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma, behind the world’s largest casino.”
