Tiger King star Carole Baskin has shared that she is bisexual.
The Big Cat Rescue CEO opened up about her sexuality in an interview with PinkNews, saying that she “could just as easily have a wife as a husband”.
Carole said she first felt a connection to the LGBTQ community when she was engaged to a psychologist in the 1980s during the Aids crisis.
She said it was at this time she realised she “had just as equal feelings for women as I did for men”.
“I have always considered myself to be bisexual,” Carole said. “Even though I’ve never had a wife, I could just as easily have a wife as a husband.
“As far as the way I feel about us, I think we are all one and I just don’t see us as being different genders or different colours or anything.”
Carole has been married to husband Howard since 2004 and was previously married to millionaire businessman Don Lewis from 1991 to 2002, when he was declared legally dead.
Don disappeared in 1997 and his fate was the source of speculation during Netflix’s hugely popular Tiger King documentary series. Carole vehemently denies being involved.
During the series, she was seen clashing with Joe Exotic, a gay big cat breeder who has been jailed for plotting to have her killed.
Carole was asked by PinkNews if she thought Joe Exotic was a good representative for the LGBTQ community, to which she replied: “I think he’s an embarrassment to the human community.
“It’s not a matter of what your sexuality is, this man is just a deviant in the way that he treats human life and animal life.
“I think he’s a malignant narcissist, and that it’s all about him. It doesn’t have anything to do with any of the communities that he may associate himself with.”
Useful websites and helplines:
- London Lesbian & Gay switchboard (LLGS) is a free confidential support & information helpline for LGBT communities throughout the UK | 0300 330 0630
- Manchester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard is a free support, information and referral service for the Manchester and North-West area | 0161 235 8000
- Stonewall for more information on other LGBT services and helplines | 08000 502020