'Tiger King' Joe Exotic doubles down on calling out Jordan Travis, endorsing Graham Mertz
Joe Exotic — who is really Joe Maldonado-Passage — he of Netflix fame and known by the now-infamous “Tiger King” moniker, is not pleased with more than a few college football players infringing on his intellectual property. The latest in his crosshairs is Florida State signal caller Jordan Travis.
Travis released a “College King” T-shirt after the Seminoles defeated both the LSU and Clemson Tigers in the first month of their season. This earned an initial call out from the currently-incarcerated Maldonado-Passage. He has since discussed his contentions with the Tampa Bay Times’ Matt Baker, via an attorney and from Texas prison.
“It was directed at Jordan, but started with (former LSU quarterback) Joe Burrow,” Maldonado-Passage said in an email from prison, via his power of attorney. “Sick of everyone else riding off my trademark I created before they were out of high school. I am living the hell from Tiger King and no one is going to profit from it.”
Maldonado-Passage’s original message on social media was fierce.
“Jordan Travis was 6 years old when I became The Tiger King, it is my trademark, my intellectual property and I’m sick of others cashing in on my Trademark,” he wrote, in part.
Maldonado-Passage, who threatened legal action, has yet to find a lawyer to take on the case, per the Tampa Bay Times.
The story took a resounding twist when a few days later, Maldonado-Passage authored another message bringing in-state rivals Florida and quarterback Graham Mertz into the fold. He said if he “had to pass the Tiger King crown to anyone,” it would be Mertz.
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“How can you claim to be king of anything when you’re not even king in your own state??” Maldonado-Passage wrote.
The photo had a Gators hat edited on to his head and Mertz added in on the bottom right corner.
He explained to Baker that he doesn’t really watch football. The Gators were just the natural pick to go against someone he feels is wronging him.
“I don’t even watch football,” Maldonado-Passage said. “I just thought that — screw Jordan Travis — so I would root for the Gators.”
He also continued his campaign to be exonerated and freed from prison.
“Everyone wants to be the Tiger King, but no one wants to stand up for the truth that I am wrongfully in prison in my own country with evidence of video deposition that the Government witness lied and the federal agent knew it,” Maldonado-Passage said.