Top 10 Cringiest Moments From Tiger King

Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin’s feud is epic. Because of Joe’s apparent lack of filter, there is seemingly no subject that’s off-limits when attacking her. But even by his low standards, the way he talks about Don Lewis is messed up. When promoting the theory that Carole Baskin killed her husband, Joe Exotic goes so far as to use some extremely crude editing to make it appear as if he is Don Lewis, speaking to Carole from beyond the grave. Or, more specifically… from the septic tank on her property where Joe believes Baskin dumped Lewis’ body. There’s nothing like a combination of poor production value and complete disrespect for the dead to make your skin crawl!

Love will make a person do crazy things. It can turn the most stoic individuals into bleeding hearts. Or… it can prompt a seemingly reserved and mild-mannered man like Howard Baskin to dress up like a caveman/tiger while his wife leads him around on a leash for professional photos. While Howard’s cosplay pics are hard to look at, it’s nothing compared to the sheer agony of witnessing him serenading his wife. The editing clearly aims to maximize the cringe factor, providing little context to this amateur operatic performance and lingering on it far longer than anyone could want.

Garretson is one of the most disliked individuals in the entire docuseries. He’s essentially forced into cooperating in an investigation against Joe, then has the audacity to say he’s participating because it’s “the noble thing to do”. But thanks to this epically embarrassing footage, he’s now also a meme legend. Garretson clearly sees himself as a badass, and surely imagined that this jet ski footage would reinforce his image as some sort of rebellious hero. He really postures for the camera, giving his best action star impression, but thanks to the editing and music, the entire thing plays like one big joke. The only person who’s not in on it? Garretson himself.

Episode 2 begins with a shocking accident. Thankfully, while G.W. Zoo might not have the best safety protocols, everyone springs to action. Joe, in particular, comes across as a dedicated boss. But then you remember that the moment’s being filmed and that Joe loves to put on a show. When he almost immediately makes it a priority to go inform the park guests, you realize just how performative his reaction is. The crazy thing is… he genuinely seems to think that making this announcement will make him look good. Instead, we get a crash course in how not to handle PR in the wake of a crisis. Where the heck did he get an EMS jacket?! Was that really a priority?

Joe Exotic is a loose cannon. But setting fire to his own studio and killing his alligators in an act of arson? That seemed like a stretch even for him; that is until we’re presented with a damning video. This shaky video captures a discussion between Joe and his attorney, in which Joe is made to realize that the footage Rick Kirkham has shot is a major liability. Furthermore, it’s heavily inferred that Joe should deal with it. Joe then seems to confirm that he will make the studio tapes disappear. And who shot this video? John Finlay, on Joe’s own orders. Nothing like shooting some incriminating footage of you plotting to get rid of incriminating footage.

It’s a real wild ride getting to know the larger-than-life personality that is Joe Exotic. Were he a fictional character in a film, we’d label him totally unbelievable. But hey, truth is often stranger than fiction, and he’s living, breathing proof. Of the many, many personal details that we learn about Joe, there are a few that we’d really prefer to have NOT learned. You know… like what he uses those locks for. Or the revelation that Joe Exotic does not wear underpants! Combine the Prince Albert piercing with the lack of underwear, however, and you’re hit with one seriously shiver-inducing mental image. Thanks for the overshare Joe!

One of the biggest commonalities between the main characters in “Tiger King”, in addition to their love of big cats, is their complete lack of self-awareness. Their inflated egos seem to go hand in hand with a fundamental misunderstanding of what people admire. But when it comes to male chauvinism, Jeff Lowe is in a class of his own. He’s continuously spouting stomach churning one-liners about women, sex and his own success. His comment about the connection between big cats and women is revolting, but nothing can compare to him and his pregnant wife looking at nannies. Oh, and that gym comment? Barf.

Let the record show - we’re not saying Carole Baskin killed her husband. Either way though, whenever she talks about his disappearance, she does it in such a casual and dismissive manner that it’s difficult NOT to feel suspicious. Among the worst such incidences is when she’s trying to explain why she couldn’t have hidden his body in the septic tank, and essentially outlines why it would make for a great hiding place. Every time she speaks about Don Lewis, it’s like she’s toying with us. Oh, and let’s not forget her explaining what you’d want to put on someone’s shoes to get a big cat to kill them.

As seen in the previous episode when he’s filming a response to the fire, Joe has a tendency to play up his emotions for the cameras. But when Travis tragically dies, Joe seems genuinely devastated. Unfortunately, your sympathy for him quickly dries up as he proceeds to meet and marry another young man, Dillon Passage, within two months of Travis’ death. In what seems to be an act of goodwill, Joe invites Travis’ mother to the wedding. When she arrives however, it quickly becomes clear that it’s nothing more than a photo op - a chance for Joe to document and share that she seemingly gives him her blessing. Adding insult to injury, according to Cheryl Maldonado, Joe never contacted her again.

Joe Exotic does not sing his own songs. Joe’s speaking voice is high and nasally, while his faux singing voice is deep and has a classic country sound. If you hadn’t figured it out, this live performance makes it painfully obvious that Exotic is almost always lip-syncing. Not only does he appear to be singing over a recording at the funeral, but everything about his performance is just so tone deaf. His delivery is totally inappropriate for the context, as is his choice to perform - period. His husband has just died, and still he can’t help but make it the Joe Show. Honestly, this entire funeral is just one big masterclass in cringe, from talking about Travis’ testicles, to the quote he attributes to him [broll: to make you smile].