PETA Statement: Ryan Easley Killed by Tiger

For Immediate Release:
September 21, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

Ryan Easley, an associate of Joseph Maldonado (“Joe Exotic”), was killed yesterday by a tiger he owned at his roadside zoo. Easley had acquired tigers from Joe Exotic and fellow Tiger King villain Bhagavan “Doc” Antle for his business, ShowMe Tigers, and for years had hauled them around the country, forced them to perform in cruel circuses—including Shrine and Carden Circuses—and kept them trapped in cages for hours when they weren’t performing. In 2017, Easley was caught violently whipping tigers during a training session, one of whom was reportedly struck 31 times. When Joe Exotic was operating his Oklahoma roadside zoo, G.W. Exotic Animal Park, Easley boarded his tigers in cramped cages at the roadside zoo during the winter.

Please see the following statement from PETA Foundation Senior Director of Captive Wildlife Debbie Metzler:

It’s never safe for humans to interact directly with apex predators, and it’s never a surprise when a human is attacked by a stressed big cat who has been caged, whipped, and denied everything natural and important to them. PETA is calling for the remaining wild animal exhibitors who aren’t dead or in federal prison to get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.