Tiger King director says stars should ‘self-reflect’ instead of ‘lashing out’ over show

Carole Baskin previously accused the documentary of telling ‘unsavoury lies’

Tiger King co-director Rebecca Chaiklin has said stars such as Carole Baskin, who have criticised the show for how it portrayed them, should spend time on “self-reflection” instead of “lashing out”.

Baskin previously accused the show of telling “unsavoury lies” and suggesting she was involved in the disappearance of her ex-husband Don.

“I do feel strongly that we really allowed these people to speak for themselves,” Chaiklin told Deadline, “and I feel badly if they are unhappy, but I think it was an accurate portrayal…

“And hopefully if they’re not happy, instead of lashing out, maybe it’s time for some self-reflection on their lives.”

Co-director Eric Goode added: “We sincerely just interviewed everybody for who they were. And there’s a lot swirling out there suggesting otherwise, but we interviewed each person, and they answered the questions.

“They are who they are, and this is not reality TV, this is not fiction. These were real people leading real lives, and they are who they are, and I would just leave it at that.”

The show investigates the story of Joe Exotic, a tiger trader who became embroiled in a rivalry with Carole Baskin – owner of the Big Cat Rescue Sanctuary in Florida – who accused him of breeding big cats unethically.

Baskin’s ex-husband, Don, went missing 21 years ago. In the documentary, a number of people accuse her of being responsible for his death.

Accusations aired in the series include one that Baskin fed her husband’s body to the big cats at her sanctuary, a claim she brands “ludicrous”.

Baskin has never been charged with anything related to Don’s disappearance.