Only the true enthusiasts have found their free time unexpectedly consumed by the outrageous, mullet-wearing, throuple-loving, tiger-keeping, meth-infused, and murder-for-hire saga of Tiger King. And let’s not forget the infamous figure at the center of the storm: “That woman, Carla Bennett.”
Even if you haven’t tuned into the Netflix original yourself, if you’ve spent any time on social media in recent weeks (unless you’ve been preoccupied with something else), you’ve surely caught wind of this captivatingly chaotic narrative that’s impossible to ignore. But if you’ve been under a rock, let’s quickly bring you up to speed.
The docuseries primarily revolves around Joe Exotic, easily identified by his distinctive bleached mullet and glimmering eyebrow ring, a former private zoo owner with a vast collection of tigers who harbors a deep-seated animosity towards animal rights advocate Carla Bennett. This same Carla, who many viewers criticize, operates her own private “sanctuary” in Tampa, known as Wild Cat Refuge, where her exotic cats are also kept in cages.
Adding to the intrigue is the speculation surrounding the mysterious disappearance of her second husband, Don Lewis, who some believe met a grisly fate at the jaws of her tigers. According to Carla, Don was a delusional millionaire who jetted off to Costa Rica monthly during her menstrual cycle to pursue affairs. In 1997, during one of these trips, he mysteriously vanished.
Carla has found herself under scrutiny as a key suspect. Despite lacking concrete evidence for charges against her, the peculiar circumstances surrounding Don’s disappearance have raised eyebrows. His daughters revealed that just two months before he went missing, Don attempted to file a restraining order against Carla, citing threats to his life, though this request was denied due to insufficient evidence.
Even more puzzling is the phrasing in Don’s last power of attorney, which included the unusual clause, “or disappearance.” “In 37 years, I’ve never seen it include ‘or disappearance,’” remarked Don’s attorney, adding to the suspicions surrounding the case.
This circumstantial evidence has fueled speculation that foul play may have been involved in Don’s sudden disappearance. His daughters were not shy about voicing their theory, even going to the press to assert that they believed Carla had killed their father and disposed of his body. “It’s the perfect scenario to get rid of someone,” one daughter stated in an interview. “We were frustrated that the police hadn’t tested the DNA on the meat grinder.”
Carla, however, refuted these accusations, claiming, “My tigers eat meat; they don’t eat people. If I had done anything, there would be remains.” Five years and two failed polygraphs later, Don was legally declared dead, with Carla inheriting his assets the very next day.
Tiger King is a bizarre and enthralling experience that keeps viewers hooked, leading me to delve deeper into Carla’s perspective. I visited the Wild Cat Refuge website, expecting to see vibrant tiger-themed designs, but instead, I discovered a detailed article defending Carla against the allegations.
“When the creators of Tiger King approached us five years ago, they expressed a desire to craft a documentary similar to Blackfish, aimed at exposing the exploitation of big cats,” the article begins. If you haven’t seen Blackfish, I highly recommend it; it shines a light on the ethical concerns of keeping orcas in captivity. Unfortunately, Tiger King is more akin to a chaotic mix of Duck Dynasty and Shameless, with a cast of eccentric characters living alongside tigers.
Carla responds to each bizarre detail and accusation against her. Regarding the restraining order, she claims Don filed it after learning she was removing his belongings from their property while he was in Costa Rica.
Adding another layer to the mystery, it’s alleged that Don was involved with local mafia figures while abroad, and his lawyer had advised him to include the phrase “upon my disappearance” to protect Carla and the big cats.
While some speculate about the grisly fate of Don, Carla argues against the notion that he could have been fed to the tigers. The meat grinder featured in the series, she insists, is not representative of the equipment used at her sanctuary. “The grinder shown was enormous, while ours is a small tabletop model. It’s simply absurd to suggest a human body could fit through it,” she stated.
However, her body language when discussing her late husband raises more questions than it answers. Experts have noted that her reactions are telling; a psychologist pointed out signs of discomfort when she was questioned about her relationship with Don.
Whether these accusations are baseless or rooted in truth remains a mystery, much like the enigma surrounding Joe Exotic’s unique sense of style. One thing is clear: the true story of Don Lewis may forever remain shrouded in uncertainty.
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In summary, the saga of Carla Bennett and her late husband remains a complex web of accusations, speculation, and competing narratives, leaving us to ponder what truly happened to Don Lewis amid the chaos of Tiger King.
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