Why Everyone's Talking About Tiger King Star Carole Baskin's New Role
When the Netflix documentary series Tiger King premiered in March, it was an immediate sensation with everyone staying home during the pandemic. Joseph Maldonado-Passage, aka "Joe Exotic," and his nemesis, Carole Baskin, quickly became household names. While Exotic is still serving his 22-year sentence for plotting to kill Baskin, she's about to return to television screens everywhere as a cast member on Dancing with the Stars, per the Associated Press. That's good news for all the cool cats and kittens fascinated by the animal rights activist.
Tiger King might have ended, but Baskin has recently made headlines for criticizing the big cats used in Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's music video for "WAP" (via Vice). Baskin claimed the video glamorized ownership of big cats, which led to the cycle of abuse portrayed in Tiger King. Baskin also commented on Saturday Night Live cast member Chloe Fineman's impression of her, jokingly saying, "I could just slap that woman!" (via Entertainment Weekly).
Other reality stars will be joining Carole Baskin on Dancing with the Stars
Carole Baskin isn't the only reality sensation who will be competing for the mirror ball this year. Monica Aldama, the Navarro College cheer coach featured on the Netflix series Cheer, will also be competing (via Us Weekly). So will former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, Catfish host Nev Schulman, and Selling Sunset real estate agent Chrishell Stause. Last season's winner was a reality star; former Bachelorette Hannah Brown won with her partner, dancer Alan Bersten (via CNN).
Other celebrities joining the cast include actresses Anne Heche and Skai Jackson, athletes Vernon Davis and Charles Oakley, rapper Nelly, and Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean. The professional dancers they'll be paired with have yet to be announced. The new season of Dancing With the Stars premieres on September 14 on ABC. Tyra Banks will be hosting the season for the first time. Hopefully, Baskin will give some updates on the Oklahoma Zoo, which a federal judge transferred from Joe Exotic to Carole Baskin.