BASKIN LAWSUIT OBJECTING TO USE OF FOOTAGE OF US IN TIGER KING SERIES TWO
Written By Howard Baskin
ALL OF THE STATEMENTS BELOW ARE THE OPINION OF MR. BASKIN
NOVEMBER 1, 2021
Today Carole and I filed a motion in Federal Court in Tampa asking for a temporary restraining order against Netflix and Royal Goode Productions from showing Tiger King Season 2 (TK2) based on our belief that the Producers Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin do not have the right to use any video or audio taken of us during their filming for Tiger King, Murder, Mayhem and Madness (TK1).
We believe that TK1 showed Goode and Chaiklin to be devoid of ethics, integrity, and any concern for the welfare of big cats.
When we were first approached by Goode and Chaiklin in 2014, they told us that they were making a documentary to expose the illicit big cat trade akin to the renowned Blackfish documentary. Yet, as we now know from seeing TK1, their work is anything but a legitimate documentary.
Our agreement to participate with Goode and Chaiklin was expressly limited to using our film footage in a single documentary motion picture. Even giving them the benefit of the doubt that TK1 is a legitimate documentary motion picture, that was the extent of our agreement. We made it very clear to Goode and Chaiklin that we had no desire or intent to be involved in TK2. When Netflix released its Official Tiger King 2 Trailer last week, we were shocked to see that we were going to be a central theme of the sequel and they were using the film footage again without our permission.
While we cannot stop Netflix and Royal Goode Productions from producing low-brow, salacious and sensational programing, we do believe that we have the right to control footage filmed of us under false pretenses. We like to believe that most Americans will agree that we should be entitled to protect our reputations in this manner and hold entertainment giants to their word.
Because this is an active litigation matter we will not be doing any interviews about it at this time. If you would like to read the complaint or declarations or keep up with pleadings in this case please visit this Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/
Well said, Howie. The fight begins and I am happy you and Carole are not staying silent.