Who is Dillon Passage?Are Dillon Passage and Joe Exotic still together?Is Dillon Passage on Instagram?
Spoilers for Tiger King ahead. Joe Exotic (real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage) is the eccentric figure at the center of Netflix's newest docuseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (opens in new tab). In addition to running a makeshift zoo of exotic animals (most notably, of course, tigers), Exotic is an open polygamist who has had five husbands over the years. At the time of his arrest and conviction at the end of Tiger King (opens in new tab), Exotic had just one spouse, Dillon Passage.
While Tiger King viewers know that Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison after being convicted of several crimes, including a murder-for-hire plot to kill animal rights activist Carole Baskin (opens in new tab), the documentary left the state of its lead's most recent marriage—and the fate of his husband, Passage—unclear. Here's what happened to Dillon Passage after the events of Tiger King.
Who is Dillon Passage?
Dillon Passage is Joe Exotic's fifth husband, the third featured in the Tiger King series. Exotic's third and fourth marriages, to John Finlay (opens in new tab) and Travis Maldonado, were simultaneous, ending with Finlay leaving the union for another relationship, and Maldonado's death after he accidentally shot himself in the head during an attempt to prove that his weapon would not shoot without its magazine.
In December 2017, two months (59 days, to be exact) after Maldonado's death, Exotic married Passage. Little is known about Passage's life before his relationship with Exotic. We do know that he's originally from Austin (opens in new tab), he was living on an air mattress (opens in new tab) prior to meeting Exotic, and that Exotic believes he was sent from a higher power to save him from dying by suicide after Maldonado's death.
"His energy is just so strong, and when he proposed to me it was just something I couldn't think about," Passage said of Exotic during an interview for Tiger King.
Are Dillon Passage and Joe Exotic still together?
As of 2019, the Daily Beast (opens in new tab) reported that Exotic and Passage were still married and, in the final segments of Tiger King (which were filmed in January 2020), this appeared to still be the case.
Is Dillon Passage on Instagram?
The Joe Exotic Instagram account follows 994 accounts, exactly one of which includes the name "Dillon" in their display name. That account is @dillert_lclm (opens in new tab), the same account tagged in photos of Dillon that the Joe Exotic account shared.
The @dillert_lclm account is still active, and posted as recently as Thursday, writing, "Y’all have been by my side since day 1, no judgements, just love and support. These are my people. I appreciate you guys so much 🤟🏽 ft our doggos and Courtney’s banana 🍌," along with a group picture.
A post shared by Dillon Passage ♌️ (@dillert_lclm) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
The account has also been sharing recent photos and selfies of a man who appears to be Dillon Passage.
A post shared by Dillon Passage ♌️ (@dillert_lclm) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
A post shared by Dillon Passage ♌️ (@dillert_lclm) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
Although the account doesn't feature pictures of Exotic, there are several photos and video clips of tiger cubs, which Passage certain had access to before Exotic's arrest.
A post shared by Dillon Passage ♌️ (@dillert_lclm) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
A post shared by Dillon Passage ♌️ (@dillert_lclm) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by on
If the most recent 'Grams on this account are any indication, Dillon Passage is hanging in there in the wake of the Tiger King series and leaning on friends.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
subscribe here (opens in new tab)
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
The Best Beauty Products in the World: Marie Claire's Prix D'Excellence Awards 2023
The elite in skincare, cosmetics, and haircare, according to our global beauty editors.
By Deena Campbell
-
Greasy, Weighed-Down Hair? Try Conditioning Before You Shampoo
Everything you know about washing your hair, flipped (literally).
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
Meghan Markle's Go-To Jean Jacket Is On Sale at Madewell
Madewell's coveted biannual sale means 25% off everything—and we mean *everything*.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
The 75 Best K-Dramas You'll Be Completely Hooked On
Wait, how is it already 2 a.m.?
By Quinci LeGardye
-
Selena Gomez Revealed Meryl Streep Is Joining 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 3
Fans are losing it.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Sophia Brown on Joining the World of ‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’
The actress opens up about the “surreal process” of playing the Lark in the Netflix fantasy prequel.
By Quinci LeGardye
-
'Ginny & Georgia' Season 2: Everything We Know
Netflix owes us answers after that ending.
By Zoe Guy
-
The Unstoppable Alia Bhatt
Bollywood’s silver-screen darling is both at the top of her game and just getting started.
By Neha Prakash
-
The Cast of 'The Crown' Season 5: Your Guide
The Mountbatten-Windsors have been recast—again.
By Andrea Park
-
Who Is Hasnat Khan, Princess Diana’s Boyfriend on Season 5 of ‘The Crown’?
Di’s friends have said she referred to the doctor as “the love of her life.”
By Andrea Park
-
Who Is Penelope "Penny" Knatchbull?
She and Prince Philip strike up an unlikely friendship throughout the fifth season of 'The Crown.'
By Andrea Park