When you think of guys named Joe associated with tigers, you probably either think of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow or notorious “Tiger King” Joe Exotic.
The former is currently trying to find his form on the NFL field as he hopes to take the Bengals back to the Super Bowl.
The latter remains in federal prison over numerous charges, including his role in a murder-for-hire plot on animal rights activist Carole Baskin.
Now, Joe Exotic is asking Joe Burrow for a little bit of help, even if he didn’t spell his name correctly.
In a letter to “Joe Burrows,” Joe Exotic has called on the Bengals quarterback to do “a good deed” and help him raise $20,000 to hire attorneys.
“Maybe paying it forward, God might help you get to the SuperBowl this year and I could go home for Christmas,” said Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado. “Then we can work together to stop animals from being in a cage.”
Here's my letter to @JoeyB 🐅 Help stop this injustice done to me and then let's go keep animals from being in a cage together #tigerking #freejoeexotic pic.twitter.com/V96cwkNQDk
— Joe Exotic (@joe_exotic) September 14, 2023
Exotic accused Burrow of calling himself the Tiger King, which was the name of the Netflix documentary about Exotic.
“My life has been destroyed, my parents have died and I continue to fight cancer and 2 incurable diseases while you all ride fame and attention off my life’s hard work,” wrote Exotic.
Burrow played for the LSU Tigers in college before joining the Bengals, named after the Bengal tiger. Hence the nickname, though it’s not one people use very often anymore for the NFL quarterback.
For his part, Burrow has previously said that he has never seen Tiger King, and the nickname was presumably bestowed upon him, not started by him.
“I just wasn’t really into the show too much, so I didn’t really watch it,” Burrow said.
It’s unlikely Exotic’s efforts here will lead to anything, but that didn’t stop people from having thoughts about the attempt.
Joe exotic writing a letter to Joe Burrow 😂😂😂 Lmao
— Brittany Copas (@imdaddyrabbit) September 15, 2023
Joe Exotic accuses Joe Burrow of being the Zuckerberg to his Winklevoss, adding that God will help Burrow get to the Super Bowl if he helps Joe Exotic raise $20,000.
So there’s that. https://t.co/0e1Oaj3xIG
— Matt Edwards (@MattEdwards) September 15, 2023
Guarantee Joe Burrow doesn’t even know who you are.
— Andrew Pickenpaugh (@AndrewPick74) September 14, 2023