Dillion Passage

Passage tells Playboy about keeping his marriage alive and why his affection can’t be bought

- Ryan Gajewski

Every story line of the Netflix docuseries Tiger King is chock-full of twists, and zoo owner Joe Maldonado-Passage’s turbulent love life is no exception. Viewers learn about Joe Exotic’s four marriages, including his polyamorous relationship with husbands John Finlay and Travis Maldonado. After his split from Finlay and Maldonado’s death, cameras roll as Joe takes Dillon Passage out on their first date; the pair weds mere weeks later.

Life has changed dramatically for the 24-year-old Passage in the few brief years he’s known his 57-year-old husband. Passage recently chatted with Playboy via Zoom to give an update on his relationship with Joe Exotic, who is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for numerous wildlife-law violations and a murder plot. Dillon discusses his arrangement with Joe regarding potential future partners, the “perverted” messages he’s received and his plan to ensure that people don’t know him solely as “Joe Exotic’s husband.”

PLAYBOY: What’s your life like right now?

PASSAGE: It is absolutely insane. Nobody really thought Tiger King was going to be this big, not even the producers. It wouldn’t have been this big if it weren’t for the quarantine.

PLAYBOY: How have the people close to you reacted to everything?

PASSAGE: When Joe was arrested in 2018, my family and friends were like, “I can’t believe you’re involved in that.” But after watching, everyone is like, “He was totally set up.” I know 100 percent that it was all set up by Jeff Lowe because he wanted the zoo.