In one of the more bizarre developments of the Australian election season, Joe Exotic – the American media personality and convicted felon best known as the Tiger King – has publicly thrown his support behind prime minister Anthony Albanese.
Currently serving a 21-year prison sentence in the United States for a murder-for-hire plot against animal rights activist Carole Baskin, as well as multiple wildlife offences, Exotic is perhaps an unlikely voice in Australian politics. He’s not even Australian, nor has he ever been involved in Australian politics. But that didn’t stop the former zoo operator and Netflix doco star from posting a doctored image of himself with Albanese on social media, overlaid with the words: “Albanese for Prime Minister.”
“Keep Australia safe and awesome,” read the Instagram caption. “All of my friends in Australia vote for @albomp”.
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In a follow-up post, Exotic insisted there was no coordination behind the endorsement. “No Anthony Albanese did not pay me,” he wrote. “I made a public offer to work for their zoo for free for 6 months or any other wildlife conservation if he would call President Trump and ask for me to be released based on the American governments witnesses have admitted to perjury. Will make the same offer to President Trump or the President of Mexico.”
It remains unclear which Australian zoo or conservation project Exotic was referring to.
As first reported by news.com.au, a Labor campaign spokesperson confirmed that the party “had no role in an endorsement from Joe Exotic, nor has anyone from the Labor campaign ever had any contact with him”.
Asked about the unexpected shoutout, Albanese kept things light and brief. “Good to see some levity,” he said, adding that the only animal he has “very passionate support from” is his dog, Toto – and that he “wasn’t even aware” of Exotic’s post.
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