Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tiger King: Jeff Lowe denies conspiracy that he is Carole Baskin’s ex husband in disastrous Reddit AMA

Fans had speculated that Lowe could be Baskin's first husband Michael Murdock in disguise

Adam White
Thursday 16 April 2020 08:28 BST
Comments
Tiger King's Joe Exotic on Louis Theroux documentary in 2011

Tiger King star Jeff Lowe has denied an internet conspiracy that he is Carole Baskin’s ex-husband, in a Reddit AMA that went disastrously wrong.

Lowe, the former business partner of convicted tiger breeder Joe Exotic, has been at the centre of a conspiracy after Tiger King fans claimed he bore a resemblance to Baskin’s first husband, Michael Murdock.

Tiger King, which launched on Netflix in March, revolves around the long-time feud between Exotic and animal conservationist Baskin. Exotic is currently serving 22 years in prison for his part in an alleged plot to have Baskin murdered.

A viral Twitter thread theorised that Lowe and Baskin worked together to frame Exotic. In Exotic’s absence, Lowe has taken over the animal park that Exotic once ran.

Responding to a fan’s question suggesting the pair’s resemblance, Lowe said: “You’re a brilliant man and she is not my type. If I was stuck on a deserted island with her, I would f*** a coconut.”

He continued: “I’ve seen the side by side pictures. It looks more like John and Joe’s love child.” The John in question is Exotic’s former lover John Finley.

Lowe’s Reddit AMA was otherwise an awkward one, with numerous Tiger King viewers using the opportunity to troll him.

“As a senior citizen, why do you dress yourself like an anthropomorphised can of Monster Energy?” read one question.

Another wrote: “I actually have a question for your wife. Lauren, why do you put up with this disgusting f***ing a*****e and let him belittle you and treat you like trash?”

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

Lowe also used the AMA session to allege that Tiger King’s producers misled him about the nature of the series.

“They framed it as an expose on Carole Baskins [sic],” Lowe wrote. “And to Carole, they said it was warning against the dangers of keeping tigers. They misrepresented the show to everyone.”

Baskin previously called the series “salacious and sensational”, leading the show’s co-producer to deny that she was “coerced” into participating in it.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in