Tiger King’s Joe Exotic reveals he has prostate cancer and pleads for a pardon AGAIN

Tiger King’s Joe Exotic has revealed he has prostate cancer. 

The former zoo owner took to Twitter on Friday to share his cancer diagnosis, and once again pleaded for a pardon from President Joe Biden in the wake of his illness.

Exotic, 58, was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole Baskin in 2019 – and sentenced to 22 years in prison. 

Health concerns: Tiger King’s Joe Exotic revealed he has prostate cancer via Twitter on Friday and pleaded for a pardon AGAIN in the wake of the diagnosis

In his social media post, Exotic wrote: ‘John Phillips [Joe’s lawyer] has received my medical records from FMC Fort Worth and my PSA count came back very high for prostate cancer. 

‘The prison has approved testing to verify what stage it is in. My body is tired, I have lost a tremendous amount of weight, the mouth sores are out of control, I throw up more than I eat.’

He added that he didn’t ‘want anyone’s pity’ but was instead keen for a pardon from ‘President Biden, VP Harris and the Attorney General’, and he accused the police and the Department of Justice of corruption. 

Diagnosis: In his social media post, Exotic wrote: 'My PSA count came back very high for prostate cancer. The prison has approved testing to verify what stage it is in'

Diagnosis: In his social media post, Exotic wrote: ‘My PSA count came back very high for prostate cancer. The prison has approved testing to verify what stage it is in’

Plea: Exotic added that he didn't 'want anyone's pity' but was instead keen for a pardon from 'President Biden, VP Harris and the Attorney General'

Plea: Exotic added that he didn’t ‘want anyone’s pity’ but was instead keen for a pardon from ‘President Biden, VP Harris and the Attorney General’

Exotic went on: ‘Make this right and sign that pardon that Trump left behind so I can go home and get proper medical care and proper food.

‘Thank you for all the love and support from all over the world. I love you all. Wish me luck…#JusticeForJoeExotic #TigerKing #JoeExotic @JohnPhillips.’ 

The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort – but this failed.

He most recently hired a new legal team, as they plan to use unaired Tiger King footage to push for a new trial. 

Jailed: Exotic was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole Baskin in 2019 - and sentenced to 22 years in prison

Jailed: Exotic was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole Baskin in 2019 – and sentenced to 22 years in prison 

Attorney John Phillips of Phillips & Hunt, who previously represented the family of Baskin’s missing husband Don Lewis, made the announcement in a video on Joe’s Twitter.

He said: ‘We are honored to announce that Joe has retained our firm. We’re going to seek a new trial, and justice in the criminal and civil courts.’

Joe has also promised some juicy secrets in Tiger King: The Official Tell-All Memoir, which is set to set to be published in November. 

He told E! News of the book: ‘It’s going to be a truth-tell book… Everybody that’s ever done anything good, it’s going to be in there and anybody that’s got bones in your closet, you better look out.’

His nemesis: Carole Baskin is pictured with husband Howard at Big Cat Rescue

His nemesis: Carole Baskin is pictured with husband Howard at Big Cat Rescue

In April, Exotic claimed he has been ‘kidnapped for a political agenda’ in a furious audio recording as he continues to push for a presidential pardon. 

In an audio recording for the Social Media Superstar Awards and obtained by The Sun, the former zoo owner said his conviction cast ‘a black cloud over our entire justice system in America’ and claimed he had ‘compassion for zoo animals and humanity. 

He said: ‘What has been done to me puts a black cloud over our entire justice system in America and our leaders of this great country should be ashamed that our own Department of Justice can take part in kidnapping me for a political agenda to only end big cats in America.

‘The real guy who has compassion and love for zoo animals, for the homeless, and for the sick, but most of all for humanity as a whole.

‘I intend to use my new platform to speak for justice and prison reform and speak for the thousands of men and women in this country who have been wrongfully convicted or over sentenced in this country for simply no reason other than for profit.’ 

Exotic said his conviction was a ‘conspiracy’ and an ‘obstruction of justice’ – as he continues to push for a presidential pardon, this time from President Biden.  

He continued: ‘To all of the people in the streets of America trying to end racism; slavery is very much alive in America, folks. It is camouflaged by prison walls. 

‘Please ask President Biden to make history and sign every pardon on his desk and every compassionate release at the beginning of his term, not at the end.’

Presidential pardon: The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort (pictured in August, 2013)

Presidential pardon: The Kansas native requested a pardon from one-term President Donald Trump back in September, sending him a handwritten letter, later suing the Justice Department in December as a last-ditch effort (pictured in August, 2013)

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

How many people does it kill? 

More than 11,800 men a year – or one every 45 minutes – are killed by the disease in Britain, compared with about 11,400 women dying of breast cancer.

It means prostate cancer is behind only lung and bowel in terms of how many people it kills in Britain. 

In the US, the disease kills 26,000 men each year.

Despite this, it receives less than half the research funding of breast cancer and treatments for the disease are trailing at least a decade behind.

How quickly does it develop? 

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs someone has it for many years, according to the NHS. 

If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, a policy of ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ may be adopted. 

Some patients can be cured if the disease is treated in the early stages.

But if it diagnosed at a later stage, when it has spread, then it becomes terminal and treatment revolves around relieving symptoms.

Thousands of men are put off seeking a diagnosis because of the known side effects from treatment, including erectile dysfunction.

Tests and treatment

Tests for prostate cancer are haphazard, with accurate tools only just beginning to emerge. 

There is no national prostate screening programme as for years the tests have been too inaccurate.

Doctors struggle to distinguish between aggressive and less serious tumours, making it hard to decide on treatment.

Men over 50 are eligible for a ‘PSA’ blood test which gives doctors a rough idea of whether a patient is at risk.

But it is unreliable. Patients who get a positive result are usually given a biopsy which is also not foolproof. 

Scientists are unsure as to what causes prostate cancer, but age, obesity and a lack of exercise are known risks. 

Anyone with any concerns can speak to Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 or visit prostatecanceruk.org



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