After John Cameron Mitchell was cast to portray Joe Exotic in the new Peacock series Joe vs. Carole, images from the set leaked online of the gay actor in a mustache and bright cowboy attire. The Tiger King himself responded with a slashing review.
Mitchell “is just going to make me look like a flaming fag…and I’m a hard-working gay male,” tweeted the incarcerated zoo owner, who had been convicted in 2019 on charges of animal abuse and murder for hire. Mitchell’s response? A painted nail emoji. “I was like, ‘Joe, please. Come on. We’re all in this — I mean, we’re not all in jail together. But we’re all queer. Let’s not get upset,’” he recalls with a laugh.
, premiering March 3 on NBCUniversal’s streaming service, focuses on the rivalry between Exotic and Carole Baskin (Kate McKinnon), the CEO of Big Cat Rescue and a vocal opponent of collectors like Exotic who cage big cats for profit. Created by Etan Frankel, the, which followed Exotic’s criminal case.
