Joe Exotic: Divorce and Finding Love in Prison

Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka Joe Exotic and the star of the Netflix hit Tiger King, is set to marry a former fellow inmate, John Graham, pending his divorce from current husband, Dillon Passage.  Joe was convicted of a failed murder-for-hire plot that targeted his archenemy, Carole Baskin.  Baskin was also featured in the Netflix hit Tiger King.  Joe was also convicted of violating wildlife laws in the operation of his zoo, the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, located in Oklahoma.  Joe was originally sentenced to 22 years in prison.  In January 2022, a judge reduced his sentence by one year to 21 years.

In Tiger King, viewers saw Joe’s current husband, Dillon Passage.  Joe and Dillon were married a mere nine months before Joe was arrested and sentenced.  The pair has spent the majority of their marriage apart.  In March 2021, Dillon announced that he and Joe would be getting a divorce.  On the topic, Dillon took to Instagram and said, “To answer the main question the public wants to know – yes, Joe and I are seeking a divorce.  This wasn’t an easy decision to make but Joe and I both understand that this situation isn’t fair to either of us.  It’s something that neither of us were expecting but we are going to take it day by day.”  Later, in July 2021, Dillon again took to Instagram to post that he was in a new relationship and to introduce his new love, also named John.

 

After Dillon introduced his new love, John, on Instagram, Joe launched the Bachelor King contest that same month.  The contest was open to all males over the age of eighteen, and it’s primary purpose was to find Joe’s new life partner.  Joe provided an incentive to apply by offering applicants a chance to win an all-inclusive four-day, three-night getaway with him once he is released from prison.  The contest was then placed on the backburner because Joe became enamored with Seth Posey, a young Arkansas native.  Joe and Seth have since parted ways and Joe is now set to marry John Graham, a fact confirmed by his attorney who stated, “Mr. Maldonado-Passage is seeking a divorce from jail because he desires to marry his new love interest, Mr. John Graham whom he met in prison.”  Apparently, Graham was currently released from prison but is not taking interview requests or making comments at this time.