Carole Baskin Sues Netflix over Appearance in 'Tiger King 2'

The legal action follows footage of Baskin being used in last week's trailer for the series

BY Megan LaPierrePublished Nov 2, 2021

In a full-circle moment, we're getting new episodes of the early-pandemic cultural phenomenon that is Tiger King — and big cat enthusiast Carole Baskin is less than pleased to seemingly be in them.

After adamantly saying that she refused to participate in a sequel, Baskin appeared briefly in last week's trailer for the follow-up season. True to her word, she and husband Howard Baskin took legal action yesterday (November 1), filing a lawsuit against Netflix and Royal Goode Productions. The Baskins are alleging a breach in contract, having only signed release forms for the first Tiger King documentary series.

"Understanding that the Appearance Releases limited Royal Goode Productions' use of the footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue to the single, initial documentary motion picture, the Baskins believed that any sequel – though odious – would not include any of their footage," the suit reads [via Variety].

"By utilizing the film footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode Productions under the Appearance Releases in 'sizzle reels' and promotional trailers for the sequel entitled Tiger King 2, the Defendants are in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases," the statement filed on the claimants' behalves continued.

Not cool, cats and kittens.

According to the legal documents, the Baskins demand that Netflix and Royal Goode Productions remove any and all footage of them from the sequel. They're also looking to take their case in front of a jury.

Interestingly, the trailer makes it seem like the notorious Joe Exotic — appearing from behind bars — might be willing to "make a deal with the devil." We all know which leopard-clad cryptocurrency aficionado he's referring to, with Baskin closing in on ownership of his unscrupulous zoo.

The second season of Tiger King hits the streaming platform on November 17.

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