Joe Exotic has announced he has an aggressive form of cancer.
The former zookeeper, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is in prison for a murder-for-hire plot.
“Doctors called me in today to break the news that my prostate biopsy came back with an aggressive cancer, Carole Will have her own party over this! Say a prayer everyone & be my voice,” he wrote on Twitter.
The diagnosis apparently came late last month, according to a letter he also shared on Twitter.
Doctors called me in today to break the news that my prostate biopsy came back with an aggressive cancer, Carole Will have her own party over this! Say a prayer everyone & be my voice 😢 love #joeexotic #exclusive #breakingnews #freejoeexotic #justiceforjoeexotic pic.twitter.com/M5wu7fI7a9
— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) November 3, 2021
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men in the U.S., with one in nine men being diagnosed during their lifetime, CBS reported. Treatment can include radiation, freezing the tissue or removing the prostate gland, depending on various factors.
Maldonado-Passage’s attorney, John M. Phillips, confirmed the diagnosis, NBC News reported.
Maldonado-Passage was convicted of trying to hire people to kill animal rights activist and critic of his park, Carole Baskin. He also was convicted of wildlife crimes. He is serving a 22-year prison sentence, CBS News reported.
>>Related: Judge denies Carole Baskin’s request to stop release of ‘Tiger King 2′ footage
He found fame after Netflix streamed the documentary “Tiger King” that focused on Baskin’s and his disagreements. A second season of the show is scheduled to be released this month, but Baskin has asked a federal court to stop the show from airing. A judge has denied her request, WFLA reported.
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