Tiger King star Joe Exotic endorses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Australian Federal election 2025

Joe Exotic, star of Tiger King and current inmate at Federal Medical Centre Fort Worth, has issued a personal endorsement for Australia’s election, hoping Aussies vote to keep the country ‘safe and awesome’.

Taking to Instagram, the Tiger King, whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage, wrote: “Keep Australia safe and awesome.”

“All of my friends in Australia vote for @albomp.”

The caption was accompanied by a photo-shopped image of Exotic and Mr Albanese both in frame, with the words “Albanese for Prime Minister Australia” splashed in colourful letters.

One user was quick to ask Exotic how much he was paid for the post.

“Some of his people reached out,” Exotic claimed.

“The others could do the same,” he added.

Although many asked if and how much Labor paid Exotic, the Tiger King at first didn’t respond to the questions.

Exotic later updated his followers, confirming Mr Albanese did not pay him for the endorsement.

“No, Anthony Albanese did not pay me,” he wrote.

“I made a public offer to work for their (Australia’s) 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 government’s witnesses (having) admitted to perjury.

“Will make the same offer to President Trump or the President of Mexico,” Exotic added.

It appears Exotic’s is hopeful Mr Albanese could secure his freedom, something the current inmate told 2DayFM program The Jimmy and Nath show with Emma on Wednesday.

“Maybe with a bit of a luck, Mr Albanese will make that phone call,” he told the hosts.

Exotic copped some hate for the personal endorsement of Mr Albanese on social media, something that did not appear to phase him.

“Those threatening to unfollow, have a nice trip,” Exotic wrote in the comments.

“I’m allowed to have my opinion,” he added.

Exotic, an openly gay man, is currently married to fellow inmate Jorge Marquez.

Some speculated in the Instagram post that Mr Albanese might be Exotic’s preferred choice due to the Tiger King’s sexuality.

“Albanese loves gay guys like you and guys going up against him voted against gay marriage,” one user wrote.

But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, or the “guys going up against him” as the Instagram user called him, actually voted “Yes” on the marriage equality bill after the yes vote won the postal plebiscite.

Exotic is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence after being found guilty for a murder-for-hire plot to kill industry rival Carole Baskin.