Entertainment
Joe Exotic’s husband Dillon Passage speaks out as Tiger King star accuses him of abandoning him in prison
Joe Exotic’s husband Dillon Passage has spoken out after the Tiger King star accused him of neglecting him while in prison.
Joe, who is currently serving time for animal cruelty and the murder-for-hire plot of Carole Baskin, is trying to be pardoned from his sentence, updating fans regularly online.
In his latest messages, Joe, 57, accuses husband Dillon, 25, of using him for ‘fame and money’ and not answering his calls.
He wrote: ‘Money destroyed my entire family. I won’t allow it to kill my soul. You win, Dillon, Jeff Duncan, Carole.
‘Come March 22nd for Travis’s Birthday I am going to keep his promise I made the day he died. I don’t need the fame, the money or the bulls**t, you can have it all.
‘It’s pretty sad to be in prison and still mean f**king nothing that ya can’t even answer a phone. I see where I stand.’
But Dillion, who has been spending time with reality stars including Too Hot To Handle’s Harry Jowsey and Francesca Farago, has now defended himself, saying things ‘aren’t as simple as they look’.
Next to a photo of him holding his pet dogs, Dillon wrote: ‘I wanted to get a post up to address Joe’s recent activity on social media. He and I, like everyone in any relationship, go through their ups and downs.
‘This is magnified by the fact that our relationship is very public and the fact that one of his only outlets is social media. Unfortunately it isn’t the healthiest place to deal with personal affairs and not how I normally handle my relationship challenges.’
‘Joe is obviously having a difficult time in prison and I don’t think any of us can fault him for that,’ he continued. ‘I’ve never spoken poorly of Joe, through the ups and the downs and through his good and his bad.
‘I see through all of this and recognize and realize it for what it is; a man in prison just trying to do his best.
‘The presidential pardon we were all waiting for never came and our hopes were dashed. I remain in support of Joe and want to be there for him.’
However, Dillon added that he also needed to take into account his own wellbeing and happiness while Joe is in prison.
‘At 25, I also need to make sure I’m healthy, both body and mind. I know even though Joe may rant, he wants the best for me as I do for him,’ he said.
‘I am certain he wants me to lead a full life as all of you do for the people you love.
‘Social media is not natural to me and if I’m quiet it’s usually because I’m working through all of this and processing to the best of my ability.
‘I didn’t and don’t want the spotlight. I’ve been thrown into this and just doing my best to support Joe, live my life, and love my dogs.’
‘Be gentle to people on social,’ he concluded. ‘You never know the challenges they are dealing with and the hardships they carry. There is always a hidden struggle for all of us.’
Tiger King is available now on Netflix.
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